A car lover's bucket list has two halves: the things you watch and the things you drive. Ask enthusiasts, and the driving half comes first: a lap of the Nürburgring, the Alpine passes, the Autobahn. The ones you remember longest are the ones where you were at the wheel.
In short: Watch the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Go to Goodwood and Pebble Beach. Visit Maranello and Italy's Motor Valley. Then drive: a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, a great road in the Alps, and two full days on a Grand Prix circuit that has been privately hired, which is what Stratos does.
Key facts
- A tourist lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife costs €30 to €35.
- Standard F1 Paddock Club packages cost about $5,500 to $15,000 a person for three days.
- Ferrari's Corso Pilota driving school is reserved for Ferrari clients.
- Most Grand Prix circuits in Europe can be driven on non-race days.
- When enthusiasts on Reddit's r/cars list their automotive bucket lists, the items named most are a lap of the Nürburgring, the Alpine passes, the Autobahn, Goodwood, the Stuttgart museums, Maranello and Le Mans.
- A driver's license, and an International Driving Permit if the license is from outside the EU.
- Stratos privately hires an entire Grand Prix circuit for 15 drivers, from €32,500 a person, with the car, private coaching, 3 nights and meals included.
To drive
1. Drive a Grand Prix circuit, privately hired
Stratos hires an entire Grand Prix circuit for 15 drivers. You drive available cars, which may include a Porsche 911 GT3 or GT3 RS, a Ferrari F8 Tributo or a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, for two full track days, with a professional race driver beside you, and stay three nights with every meal and transfer handled. No track experience is needed. Price: from €32,500 a person, VAT included. Time: 3 nights, 2 full track days. Why it is first: it is the only item on this list where you drive a supercar at speed, for two days, with 15 drivers max on a privately hired circuit.
2. A lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife
The most famous 20.8 km in motoring, open to the public on tourist days, and the item enthusiasts name first. Go once you have learned to drive on a circuit: it is long, fast and unforgiving. Spa-Francorchamps, open on track days, belongs on the same line of the list.
3. A great Alpine road
The Stelvio, the Grossglockner, the Furka, the Grimsel, the Susten, the Timmelsjoch. Early morning, before the traffic. On the way, an unrestricted stretch of German Autobahn.
4. Ice driving in the Arctic
Sliding a sports car on a frozen lake in Lapland, with an instructor. It teaches car control faster than anything on asphalt.
5. A real racing car
A day in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup or similar, once you have circuit experience.
To watch
6. The Monaco Grand Prix
The oldest glamour in the sport, from a terrace or a yacht.
7. The 24 Hours of Le Mans
Stay up all night. Watch the sun rise over the Mulsanne.
8. The Goodwood Festival of Speed
A hill climb in the grounds of an English estate, with a century of cars and their drivers within arm's reach.
9. A classic rally such as the Mille Miglia
Hundreds of pre-war and post-war cars driving through Italian towns.
To see
10. Maranello and Italy's Motor Valley
Ferrari in Maranello, Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Pagani, Maserati and Ducati, all within an hour of Bologna. You can rent a Ferrari for a short drive on the roads around Maranello. To drive one properly, on a circuit, see item 1.
11. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The world's most valuable cars on a golf course by the Pacific, each August.
12. A great car museum
Stuttgart for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz; Munich for BMW; Ingolstadt for Audi; Mulhouse for the Schlumpf collection.
Watching or driving
| Watching | Driving | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Admire | Learn |
| Who is in the car | A professional | You, with a professional beside you |
| What you take home | Photographs | A skill, data and video |
| How long it lasts | A weekend | The skill stays with you |
How to start the driving half
You do not need a car or experience. A driver's license, and an International Driving Permit if the license is from outside the EU. Begin with a coach on a privately hired circuit for 15 drivers. Then the Nürburgring, the Alps and the ice will all mean more.
Can you drive on an F1 track? · Should your first track drive be at the Nürburgring? · See upcoming events
FAQ
What should be on a car lover's bucket list?
Driving a Grand Prix circuit, a lap of the Nürburgring, the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans, Goodwood, Maranello and Pebble Beach.
What is the ultimate experience for a car enthusiast?
Driving a supercar on a privately hired Grand Prix circuit. Stratos hires the whole circuit for 15 drivers.
Can I drive a Formula 1 circuit myself?
Yes. Stratos can reserve any Grand Prix circuit in Europe, subject to availability, with a professional coach beside you.
How much does a lap of the Nürburgring cost?
€30 from Monday to Thursday and €35 from Friday to Sunday, on tourist days.
Can I do Ferrari's driving school without owning a Ferrari?
No. Corso Pilota is reserved for Ferrari clients. At Stratos you can drive a Ferrari F8 Tributo without owning one.
What is the best motorsport event to attend once?
The Monaco Grand Prix for glamour, Le Mans for atmosphere, Goodwood for access.
Do I need experience to drive on a circuit?
No. A driver's license, and an International Driving Permit if the license is from outside the EU.
About Stratos
Stratos runs exclusive driving experiences at Europe's greatest Grand Prix circuits, for founders and leaders. Each event privately hires the entire circuit for 15 drivers max, with a supercar fleet, private coaching with professional race drivers, 3 nights of luxury accommodation and 2 full track days. Stratos is invitation-only.