Gear -- 17 days ago
Words: Charlie Thomas
Goodwood is the ultimate playground. Whilst many associate it with the Festival of Speed, and rightly so – it’s one of our favourite weekends of the year – the estate itself is a mammoth 12,000 acres. It’s home to much more than the famous Goodwood House and the hill climb. There’s a race course, a gargantuous forrest, a runway complete with numerous hangers and the real gem; the motor circuit.
An historic circuit dating back to 1948, the track has changed very little since its creation. Some of the finest drivers to ever grace the planet have competed there over the years including none other than Sir Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Jim Clark. It also claimed the life of legendary designer and racing driver, Bruce McLaren, in 1970. It’s a challenging track, to say the least.
Making it more approachable and accessible though, is Goodwood themselves. They’ve recently launched a new Ultimate Driving Experience package, which allows the Average Joe to tackle the same track that the likes of Moss mastered. It’s an exciting opportunity, and one that the automotive-inclined gentleman would be a fool to pass up on.
Sponsored by BMW and Michelin, the package is doused with powerful M cars, including an M235i, M3 Saloon, M4 Coupe, an M5 and M6 and a Mini Cooper thrown in for good measure. It’s a great, varied selection of automobiles that allows the unexperienced driver to really get to grips with performance BMWs are all about, namely rapid acceleration, an evocative soundtrack and dynamic handling characteristics. They are the ultimate driving machines after all.
You’ll get full access to every ounce of power from each car, whilst learning racing tips from your respective in-car instructor. These guys are or have been professional racing drivers themselves, so in short, they want you to go fast.
Depending on which package you choose, there’s Adventure, Performance, Academy or Ultimate, you will also get the chance to get sideways on a skid pan – essentially a wet, low-grip surface that begs you to hold a drift. Your in-car instructor will give you tips on how to hold the perfect slide, so with any luck you’ll feel like Sebastian Loeb in no time. There is always the opportunity to go off-road, piloting a BMW X5 through the West Sussex forrest.
Whether you’re into speed or navigating through the shrubbery, the Ultimate Driving at Goodwood experiences will have something for you. It costs from £99 per person. For more information, click here.
