Get ready for the thrills and adrenaline on rally driving experience days!
When you go rallying you'll be driving a car in a way you'd never dream of doing out on the public roads (and it would be highly illegal too for that matter!).
It's all about going hard on the brakes into the corners, then getting a bit of a powerslide on as you grapple for grip. A handbrake turn or two and you’ll then be smoothly powering out of the bend with the rev counter bouncing as you change up the gears.
Drive classic rally cars on proper rally stages
As for what you'll be driving, we've got all the famous rally cars lining up to be driven. You can hark back to the old school, with some of the best-loved vehicles from the 1970s and 80s being revved up for your experience. There’s everything from the revolutionary front wheel drive pocket rockets, to the first all wheel drive rally cars.
Think back to the halcyon days of the Ford Team RS when the iconic Ford Escort RS1800 Mk 2 was ripping up the grit and gravel of the fledging World Rally Championship that it actually won in 1979. We always get loads of enquiries from motoring fans who want to have a go at the wheel of these absolute classics. You'll be pleased to hear that thanks to the dedication of skilled auto mechanics (it's getting continuously harder to keep the older cars on the road and even source parts for them) you can.
Try modern all-wheel drive rally cars too
As well as the old classic vehicles, we've got modern classics too. We’re talking the sparring duo of the Subaru Impreza and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, who came head to head in the WRC stages for many years in the 80s and 90s. Both all wheel drive, these cars are truly superb to drive and the grip is just unbelievable, meaning you can really push the envelope when you're at the wheels of these Japanese wonders.
Bringing the rally car driving experience bang up to date, how about giving the ProDrive Mini Countryman a try out? It's four-wheel drive, it's been race prepped by the geniuses at Warwickshire's ProDrive and (in homage to the Italian Job) it goes fast enough to blow the doors off, probably. Think full on roll-cages, five point harnesses, full face helmet with intercom, your expert rallying instructor sitting beside you in the co-pilot's seat.
Super-skilled rally drivers as your instructors
As well as some iconic rally driving cars on these experiences, there’s one more very important element we must talk about - your instructor. These guys and girls are the heroes and heroines of the British rally world and many have competed in the various rally series that run in the UK.
Take for example Andy Gwynne, who runs the rally school in Gloucester. When you see him drive it’s pretty impressive. In fact, you’ll be hard pushed to find any rallyer who pushes their little Citroen Saxo harder! What he doesn’t know about mixed surface rallying isn’t worth knowing. And if someone as experienced as Andy is your instructor on your rally driving experience, you’re getting top notch tuition.
But don’t take our word for it, watch how Andy flings his rallying Saxo around for yourself!
All the rallying surfaces
World Rally Championship routes are pretty varied. It could be snowy tracks in Finland, or precarious mountain routes in Cyprus. On our rally experience days it’s a pretty eclectic mix as well. You could be out on the muddy tracks in the countryside or struggling for grip on loose gravel purpose-built stages at off road centres.
Elsewhere, many of the circuits are based within former airfield complexes. The great advantage at this sort of venue is space. You've got loads of room to try out your doughnuts, with long, twisting circuits that are purpose-built to give you a fun and testing, yet driveable course.
In essence, no matter what the car or where the stage is, you've got yourself an intense and brilliantly gripping rally driving experience day to remember!
