Challenging The Stereotypes That Driving Experiences Are Just For Men

*I was given two complimentary experiences through
Track Days but all thoughts and opinions are my own

Driving experiences have been around for a long time with the most common being those around supercars allowing you to drive Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s and Porsche’s and feel like you’re James Bond whipping around the track. There’s also the classic car section where you can drive old-school Mustang’s and Aston Martin’s, but historically this type of activity has always been dominated by men.

It’s still a stereotype that only men are interested in cars, and while men may be far more interested in the full spec of a car and know by looking at a car what it is, that doesn’t mean to say that women aren’t interested in actually driving them. I may know very little about cars but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a driving experience as much as any man.

To try and dispel the myth and see what it’s really all about Track Days organised for me and Luke to head to Heyford Park in Oxford to do a super car and classic car drive at UDriveCars. When we arrived the place was packed as you’re allowed to bring spectators to watch the event and the split between men and women didn’t seem obvious. But after a quick check-in and waiver sign it was time for the briefing and then it became apparent most of the women in attendance were there to watch their boyfriends, husbands or dads race around the track. Out of about 20 people there for our session I was one of just two women which men’s 90% of the drivers were male.

I’m going to be honest I was a little nervous as I’m not the most confident driver so when my name was called to drive the Ferrari 360 Modena I did have a few butterflies in my stomach. The instructors in the car are there not just to keep you safe and aid you with the driving but they’re also there to challenge you and ensure you get the best experience when you’re out on the track and mine did just that. Pulling away in +£100k car was a little daunting especially as it was very fast but the adrenaline kick which driving round that track gave was unlike anything else.

In the Ferrari driving the straights was such a thrill and hearing the rev of the engine as you zip along was amazing, although I have to admit breaking so late and flowing round those corners was a little daunting but with 6 laps of the track to practice, I did get better. Next up was my classic car which was the classic Ford Mustang Fastback 1968 a left-hand drive car with no power steering a pretty sizeable bonnet.

Naturally the Mustang was very very different to drive, not only was the front a lot bulkier than the Ferrari but as it was a left-hand drive I had to anticipate more of the car being on my right than before which was tricky when trying to keep along the coned edges but it was so nice to experience something totally different, even if our top speeds were a lot slower.

You could tell from the grin on my face as I walked out of the cars that I had a good time but it was just such a unique experience to be driving for pure joy as opposed to just because you need to get from A to B. I honestly don’t know why more women don’t talk part in driving experiences, I think it’s very much an inherent underlying feeling that because you might know how the difference between one car and another, and you don’t understand about the technicals of the cars that you won’t enjoy yourself or it’s not worth spending the money on. When I was told to go over to the Ferrari I may have had to ask Luke which one it was but this didn’t mean that my experience on the track was any less than the experiences the men out there had.

When I was told to go over to the Ferrari I may have had to ask Luke which one it was but this didn’t mean that my experience on the track was any less than the experiences the men out there had. I honestly think if more women just gave it a go they’d realise how unique and amazing the adrenaline boost is.

My experience with Track Days was so smooth and the team at UDrive were exceptional both those briefing you and organising you out to the cars, and those instructors in the cars who helped me feel confident enough that I could put my foot down on the gas.

Gifting a driving experience through services like Tinggly is a great way to break the stereotype that these adventures are just for men. Whether it’s a thrilling track day or a classic-car cruise, experience gifts let anyone enjoy the excitement of driving, reminding us that it’s about passion and fun, not gender

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