Ferrari 360 Driving Experience

A few weeks ago I declared Ferrari as my hero and that I would shortly have the opportunity to drive one, courtesy of www.experiencemad.co.uk. Well, that day has been and gone and the following are my thoughts on the experience…

The Ferrari 360 Experience is one of two supercar driving experiences available at Knockhill – my local racetrack. It was a difficult choice, but my reasons for choosing the Ferrari are outlined in the previous post.

The day arrived and – predictably – Scotland served up misty conditions with a side of drizzle and the constant threat of worse. I had chosen an early morning slot and arrived at the track in plenty of time. Sipping my coffee in the restaurant, I watched the hive of activity as employees and instructors prepared the various vehicles for the day ahead.

Following registration, I was introduced to my instructor Rory who fitted me out for a helmet and ushered me to a Seat Leon Cupra R for a briefing. He ran thought the obligatory – but nevertheless important – safety routine and explained that as I was the early bird, I would be enjoying the track to myself. I popped my helmet on, fired up the Leon and gingerly eased out of the pit-lane and onto the track. Rory talked me through each corner; giving constant feedback in a bid to improve my technique and build my confidence. Usefully, cones were positioned to indicate the optimal turn-in point, apex, and the exit point for each corner. While I’m no stranger to a performance car or bit of spirited driving, this was actually my first time behind the wheel on a track. Almost immediately, I noted the degree to which mistakes at the start of a corner are amplified by the end. For example, misjudge your turn-in by a car length or so and, on exit, the car is at the wrong part of the corner and incorrectly aligned for an optimal charge up the next straight.

In total, we I zipped round the track four times in the Leon building my speed on each lap. In many respects, the little Seat was the revelation of the day. Its sharp handling was a joy, and it felt mighty strong for ‘only’ 240bhp. It may not be as raw and exciting as my first hot-hatch – Saxo VTS – but it is in a completely different league in terms of performance.

Back in the pits, I was passed over to another instructor (Craig), who would be taking me out for my Ferrari driving experience. It seemed a little odd to have built up a rapport with Rory, only to be taken around the track in the Ferrari by Craig. To be honest, I have no idea what the reason for it is, but it didn’t matter; Craig was equally friendly and communicative.

Walking over to the Ferrari was such a good feeling. It looked brilliant, and, as an added bonus, it was parked next to an equally beautiful Aston Martin. I swung the door open and dropped down into the seat for the first time. Craig and I chatted for a while and, upon his instruction, I turned over the engine to reveal the sound of that glorious V8. Motorsport regulations that require helmets to be worn somewhat spoiled the show, but the Ferrari still made its voice heard.

Once more, I selected first gear – this time via a paddle shift – and eased out onto the track. Immediately the differences between the Leon and Ferrari were clear; where the brakes in the Cupra were over-assisted, those in the 360 required a far greater shove. Initially it was disconcerting, but I soon got used to it. I also adapted to the extra overall width, quicker steering, and the fact that the bulk of the car is now aft of the cabin.

Over the six laps in the Ferrari I got progressively faster and put more and more trust in the traction and handling. When fully deployed, its 400bhp sounded magnificent and propelled it well up the main straight. It was never a raw and visceral experience though – not that I had expected it to be. A good friend has a TVR Sagaris that shakes, rumbles, squats and squirms according to how far you’ve dared to bury the loud pedal. The Ferrari on the other hand, was a honed and more refined machine; in which you sense the engineers have painstakingly decided which noises, vibrations, and feelings should and should not penetrate into the cabin. This, for some, may lead to disappointment, as the supercars of yesteryear would likely scare you witless and assault your senses. In the modern era Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche have all grown up and evolved. If you want to smell petrol vapour in the cabin, set off car alarms as you drive past, and feel 400bhp tug and pull a car all over the road, then drive a Sagaris – or any TVR for that matter.

As the laps rolled by I dared to get on the gas earlier out of each corner and – damp and patchy track notwithstanding – I found the 360 to have excellent traction and predictable manners. Braking was unfortunately a little problematic. Not only was the ABS a little over-zealous, but my trainer kept catching the underside of the brake pedal causing me to miss my braking points and subsequent turn-in points. I wholeheartedly recommend narrow footwear if you intend to drive a paddle-shift 360.

Pulling off into the pit-lane on cue was hard to do, as I wanted the experience to last forever. Back in the pits, I talked at length with Craig about all things car related as he gave me feedback on my performance. Time ticked by and he noted that he was due to warm up the Aston for the next customer. Kindly, he offered to take me round as a passenger as we continued to talk over the noise from the Aston, which was simply sensational.

Overall, I found the experience to be very enjoyable and find myself left with two hungers: to drive more supercars and to drive on track again. My only slight regret is that my first experience of both was combined into the one event. I found that when I concentrated on my lines, braking zones, and turn-in points, I completely forgot to savour the Ferrari for what it is. Conversely, when I started to concentrate on enjoying the car, I would invariably fluff a corner. If you are new to track driving, then I would recommend you do a track tuition experience prior to an on-track supercar experience. Doing so will give you some track knowledge and allow you to better enjoy whichever supercar hero you choose to drive.