Track day experiences may seem a little daunting to those who’ve dreamed about them but don’t know how to go about getting started. Most people don’t own an actual Supercar to take to a track. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a Supercar or even a hot hatch then you can head to Mondello on one of their open days or book it for a club day. If you’re not lucky enough to have access to a Supercar then Mondello can also help you out with a selection of track prepped cars to get you going.
Mondello have a wide range of packages for driving fans starting with their Porsche Driving Thrills, BMW Driving Thrills , Ferrari Driving Thrill in which you get to grips with Ferrari’s F430 Spider. There’s also the Rally Thrill, Drift Games Thrill, Formula Driving Thrill and Experience Packages in which you can climb aboard multiple high powered vehicles and whip around one of the best tracks in Ireland.
We recently experienced the Ferrari Driving Thrill and had an absolute blast. From the people we spoke to on the day, they were all loving the experience and were extremely delighted with it. You start off with a safety briefing before going anywhere. Then you’re given a fresh helmet with hair net and an instructor then brings you to your first car. For the Ferrari Driving Thrill they keep the theme Italian and and your first few laps are in Fiat’s renowned 595 Abarth.
After you’ve safely completed your first few laps, you then step into the Ferrari F430 Spider, ready for five pulse racing laps around the track. One young man had been gifted his track day thrill from his care home. He’d been dreaming about getting into a Ferrari specifically (we heard him say this repeatedly) and finally his dream had been made a reality. His carer who accompanied him for the day, was so happy for him, it was lovely to see how much joy it brought them both. One mum also commented, as she watched her son from the sidelines, that “he’s always been car mad and finally got to cash in on his birthday present”.
One complaint was that it feels like the day goes so quickly, it could be worth topping up the experience (if it’s possible) to get a few extra laps in. Canteen and food services are limited, you may need to fuel yourself up before you get there, topping up with coffees and snacks once on site. By the time you’re trackside, you won’t be really thinking of anything else other than which car you’re jumping into next anyway.
The people we spoke to were happy with their track day package – especially because there’s such a wide choice of cars to drive if you so choose. The packages can include a ‘hot lap’ driven by the instructor and these are epic! The instructors know Mondello’s tracks and cars inside out, when they show you how it’s really done, it’s absolutely exhilarating.
It’s a niche experience, treat a loved one, best mate, high performing employee or even yourself, but regardless – you will love the exhilarating experience of the track in a world-famous supercar.
From €149 you can start with the Porsche Driving Thrills experience in a Porsche Cayman S for five hot laps. The Ferrari Driving Thrill starts at €319 for a blast in an F430 Spider Supercar boasting that lovely 4.3 litre V8 engine producing 490 horse power with 465 Nm of torque. This package also includes a tour of the Martin Birrane Collection at Mondello Park.
Do I need a driving license for a Ferrari driving experience? Yes you do need to hold a full driving license – you also need to remember to bring it on the day, or you won’t be allowed on track.
However, if you’re a teen, or have a car-mad kid who is keen to get behind the wheel – there is the Early Drive experience designed for the young ones in mind, and they don’t need a license. Early Drive is a mix of classroom and practical sessions and demonstrations which result in students becoming safer pedestrians, cyclists and ultimately drivers.