Summary
When visiting Emilia Romagna, you can’t help but get excited over cars. Known as the land of motors, this Italian province takes fast cars seriously. Therefore, you must have a Ferrari experience at Auto Dromo di Modena and the Ferrari Museum.
How can you not when such iconic manufacturers like Enzo Ferrari and Ferruccio Lamborghini were born and raised here?
Ferrari Driving Experience at Auto Dromo di Modena
Our fast car experience took place near the town of Modena, the birthplace of Mr. Enzo Ferrari. Here you can have the ultimate Ferrari experience, exploring two museums and having the chance to take one for a spin on the track at Auto Dromo di Modena.
Isn’t everyone’s fantasy to get in a race car just once? We’ve missed previous opportunities to drive on a track, so we were thrilled to finally get behind the wheel.
Anyone can drive a Ferrari, as long as they have a driver’s license and some extra cash. Driving experiences at Autodromo di Modena start at €350, but for the “Ferrari Red Experience,” it’s €650.
The Red Experience includes 5 laps around the track with an instructor. If you are a car lover, the price is worth every penny. However, even if you’re not, you’ll still love the thrill!
Ferrari Driving Instruction – Auto Dromo di Modena
We watched a video of the course where our instructor Pietro talked us through the plan, including when to brake and where to let the car go full throttle. We then got geared up with helmets and intercoms to communicate with Pietro before speeding off on the track.
Today we’d be driving the Ferrari F430, which cannot be driven on the road. This remarkable car is made for speed. If you’re concerned about shifting gears, rest assured—this car has no clutch and the 6-speed gear shift is a feather shifter on the steering wheel.
You only need to listen to the engine revs to know when to shift. It’s straightforward, really, as you just have to follow Pietro’s instructions.
Experience Racing a Ferrari – What it Feels Like
The car starts with one swift push of a button, and before long, we were speeding around the track. It’s a thrill like no other, and you feel completely secure with your instructor’s guidance.
Pietro told us when to brake and where to steer coming out of corners.
The Instructor Is in Control
If you concentrate too hard and forget to shift, he’ll remind you what to do. If you’re approaching a bend too quickly, don’t worry; he has a brake on his side of the car and will assist if needed.
On the straightaways, we could let loose, and Dave even managed to shift into 6th gear. I was a bit embarrassed when I realized I forgot about 6 gears and stopped shifting at 5! Regardless, it still felt extremely fast.
Our group of bloggers took turns on the track while cheering each other on.
Watch our video: Driving a Ferrari at Auto Dromo di Modena
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0sK-2oZ_p4[/embedyt]
We were on a media tour, so we only got a taste, but two laps were still enough to feel the rush and enjoy our time on the track. The adrenaline was pumping high after driving, similar to the thrill experienced after a skydive or flying a stunt plane.
Driving a Ferrari may not feel as daunting as other extreme sports, but the exhilaration it provides is comparable. You feel ecstatic, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Ferrari Museums of Modena and Maranello
Lucky for us, our Ferrari experience didn’t stop there. To keep the momentum going, we drove to the Ferrari Museum in Modena. Ferrari is so well-loved in Emilia Romagna that there are two Ferrari museums.
The first is the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari, which offers insight into the life of Enzo Ferrari and showcases vintage Ferraris in a futuristic gallery right beside his birthplace.
Once you’ve had your fill of the classics, you can catch the shuttle to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
Ferrari Museum in Maranello
The shuttle costs €10 per person round trip and takes about thirty minutes. Here, you’ll find all the show-stoppers, including Formula 1 winning Ferraris from 1999, famous movie Ferraris, concept cars, and race simulators.
The Ferrari Museum in Maranello is one of the top attractions in the area. Consequently, it can get quite crowded, so be prepared to be patient when taking photographs amidst the crowd.
If you’re a racing fan who loves fast cars, this experience is undoubtedly for you. Allocate an entire day to immerse yourself in all things Ferrari. Start at the track in the morning, visit one museum, catch the shuttle to another, and you’re set! You’ll leave feeling satisfied that you now know everything about Ferrari.
Travel Tips for an Exciting Trip
Autodromo di Modena – On-track race experiences
Enzo Ferrari Museum – Birthplace and Office of Enzo Ferrari with Vintage Ferraris on Display – €13
Ferrari Museum Maranello – All the Ferrari cars on display you can think of – €13
You can get a package deal to both museums for €22
Emilia Romagna Tourism – For more information on this part of Italy
Follow Travel Bloggers through their Emilia Romagna explorations.
