UK law prevents anyone under the age of 17 from driving, right? Technically, yes, but if you read a bit deeper, you’ll find that the age limit applies to public roads and similar spaces. The result is that you can take a turn in the driving seat of a car under specific conditions - and so long as you’re tall enough to reach the pedals - even if you're not 17 yet. There are numerous outdoor adventure centres around the UK that allow under-17s to have a driving experience, and, what’s more, you might find yourself driving something more than a standard hatchback! Read on to find out more.
Drive a Rally Car
The first opportunity on the list might involve driving a hatchback, but not in that way you might expect. Rallying is one the coolest motorsports around - a dust-clouding, ditch-jumping, sideways-drifting rush of petrol, tyres and adrenaline. If you’re a fan of the Fast and Furious movies, this one's for you. Driving experience venues around the country offer rally sessions and drifting workshops specifically aimed at teenagers and sometimes children as young as eight! You'll learn to control a vehicle set up for rallying, feel the sensation of driving on loose surfaces like gravel and, depending on your progress, have the chance to throw your vehicle sideways into an awesome drift. Why not have a go at rally driving in the Cotswolds?
Go Off-Roading in a 4x4
Time to get serious. 4x4 cars are some of the most impressive pieces of machinery you're likely to encounter in daily life, combining rugged bodywork and high tech gadgetry. WIth the power under the hood and the capabilities of the engineering, it’s hard to believe that you’re allowed to put pedal to the metal of one of these before getting your L Plates - but it’s true! Sign up for a junior off-roading experience anywhere from Kent to Perth and Kinross and you’ll barrel down country lanes, splash through mud and keep your balance on precarious terrain with the help of one of these vehicles. There are child-friendly 4x4 experiences available in Warwickshire.
More good news
You don’t have to stick to cars. No no, even though you’re under 17, the world is already your oyster when it comes to driving experiences in Great Britain. If the idea of driving a car or a 4x4 is a little daunting, go for something with maximum fun without compromising on ease of use - a quad bike. These tough vehicles pack a powerful punch whilst keeping things super simple. Controlling them is incredibly intuitive and they are almost all automatic, so you don’t have to worry about gear changes. There are quad biking activities on offer to children as young as 6 years old in some places, using special mini quads.
Another stripped-back - but still epic - vehicle you can get your hands on is a off-road buggy. Again, they’re most at home on dirt tracks and uneven terrain, as well as sand dunes, though we don’t have so many of them in this country. Compared to quads, driving buggies is a bit more like driving a car, but the lightweight design and uninhibited roar of the engine makes driving a buggy totally unique.
Competing with quads for inclusivity are go-karts, which can be driven by children from the tender age of 5 years old! Karting is as close as most of us will ever come to Formula 1 racing - but, as the examples of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso go to show, it’s also the best way to nurture young talent. Best of all, you don’t have to travel out to the sticks to enjoy it. Most karting tracks are located in or around towns and cities.
When you look at it like that, the years before your 17th birthday don’t seem so tedious after all! A final advantage to junior driving experiences is that they usually come at discount prices. Check out our directory to find the perfect motorsports activity to put on your Christmas list!
