With spring having sprung, it’s time to start planning your motoring year. The calendar is absolutely packed from now until the curtain comes down with the Goodwood Revival in September, and there has never been so many top-drawer events to choose from. Upcoming highlights include the Monaco Historic in mid-May (below) – an opportunity to watch the finest classic racing cars on the greatest, maddest racetrack of them all. Although increasingly crowded (I remember the earliest years of the event when you could buy a grandstand ticket in Casino Square on the day), it still retains an air of exclusivity and occasion, which its contemporary sister event version lacks. There are few greater thrills than watching late 70s F1 cars flying across the swimming pool chicane, tobacco brands emblazoned on their rudimentary wings and air scoops, their roaring Cosworth V8s stirring the soul. Heaven!
A week later there is the style and sophistication of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este (below) on the shores of Lake Como. Here you can ogle cars you’ve never heard of – this year’s line-up includes a 1925 Firman and a 1933 Pierce-Arrow – and more familiar favourites like a Lancia Stratos, a Lamborghini Miura SV and a selection of the greatest Ferraris ever built. It is also a great place to see the future, with a special ‘Concept & Prototype Cars’ section.
Looking, either at static cars on a lawn or racing on a track, is all very well but at some stage this summer you’ll probably want to get behind the wheel yourself. I have just returned from a tour-planning trip to La Mancha and Andalucía in southern Spain, and after 20 years’ experience in the field I can honestly say that this is where driving nirvana is to be found. Empty roads with wide, smooth tarmac that snake through some of the most dramatic scenery in Europe. While the choice of hotels in La Mancha is limited, the Paradores here are remarkable. Not for the design of their bedrooms and bathrooms (although clean they tend to be a little tired), but for their history and extraordinary views. These historic castles command the finest hilltop locations, and the resulting vistas are breathtaking. Further south in Andalucía, 15 miles east of Seville, is the city of Carmona, home to a Parador with views stretching out across the vast central plain of Andalusia to the distant Sierra Nevada.
Before you think I’ve gone all travel writer on you, all this hotel talk is leading somewhere, I promise – but bear with me a moment longer while I tell you about an altogether more opulent establishment a hundred miles east of Carmona.
The Bobadilla Hotel (above and below) is a white Moorish-style estate in the middle of deserted rolling hills. This tranquil retreat is exquisitely understated and the perfect destination after a hard day’s driving. There are many reasons to stay at the Bobadilla, but for the purposes of this column its main attraction is its proximity to 3.3 miles of twisting Tarmac less than an hour away.
Ascari Race Resort (main image and below) is one of the world’s finest private racetracks. Built for the entertainment of super-rich petrolheads, it knows its market well (its owner is Dutch businessman and gentleman racer Klaas Zwart) and oozes style from the moment you arrive at the security gate (fringed by palm trees, of course). With manicured lawns and a clubhouse complete with sun terrace and pool, it is the antithesis of the cold and grimy British airfield circuit that is the staple of the UK trackday driver.
Built for the entertainment of super-rich petrolheads, Ascari Race Resort knows its market well
The garage is equally impressive – row after row of race-prepped Porsches, Ferraris, Lotuses, BAC Monos (below) and other enticing toys all available to rent by the lap, plus dozens of client cars ready to roll at a moment’s notice. If you’re really brave (and talented), they even have Formula 1 cars for clients to sample.
The track itself is the longest in Spain – a typical lap in a fast sports car takes around three minutes. Surrounded by the undulating Andalusian landscape, it’s a challenging and technical track with many sections redolent of famous corners from Grand Prix circuits around the world. You can hone your technique and slash your lap times with the help of a private instructor.
While the Alps, the Cote D’Azure and Monaco have previously been the driver’s destination of choice, southern Spain should be considered a serious alternative.
Chris Bucknall is Managing Director of V Management, a 5-star storage and management facility for classic and supercars in Berkshire. They also organise bespoke private European tours and track days. You can contact him at chris@v-management.com
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