I drove 11 automobiles in a day together with Rolls Royce, BMW and Ford

EXCLUSIVE: Christopher Sharp drove 11 automobiles at and round Goodwood Motor Circuit. After some reflection, he has determined what his favorite was

Christopher at Goodwood

Christopher attended Goodwood’s Media Day (Picture: Christopher Sharp)

I just lately had the chance to drive 11 automobiles in someday – however my favorite was an actual shock. Becoming a member of up with different media at Goodwood Motor Circuit, we had a possibility for to check automobiles from quite a lot of producers on observe and on the highway in addition to meet up with the producers themselves.

The best way it labored was much like the SMMT Check Day I attended final 12 months. Throughout a set time period you might have the chance to drive as many automobiles as you select or can match into the time.

I had about six hours of potential driving time at one of many biggest circuits within the UK. And, after having a while to suppose, that is my verdict on the 11 automobiles I drove that day.

Christopher next to the Renault 5

Christopher and the Renault 5 (Picture: Christopher Sharp)

Winner: Renault 5 (RRP: £22,995)

The Renault 5 has been on my motoring driving listing for a very long time. In whole, it is gained an unbelievable 44 awards together with the UK Automobile of the Yr 2026, What Automobile? Automobile of the Yr 2025 and Prime Gears Automobile of the Yr for 2024.

So given the hype round it, I used to be determined to search out out what it was like. It was the primary automotive I went to and inside minutes of beginning out on the highway I might see why it was so standard.

To drive it’s impeccable; it’s a automotive that at highway speeds rotates round your hips. I couldn’t consider it as a result of from the skin it appears to be like fairly large, however on Britain’s potholed bumpy roads it was all of the cliches of driving incredibleness. Sure, it’s not probably the most highly effective, it’s not rear wheel drive, however of the trendy automobiles I’ve pushed it’s among the finest. Speaking to others afterwards we couldn’t fairly consider what Renault had carried out, as a result of it’ll take rather a lot for different small electrical automobiles to really feel this good.

I’ve by no means pushed a Rolls Royce in my life. I’ve sat in a single, however by no means been behind the wheel of automobiles like this which are typically price north of £300,000. It goes second primarily due to the sensation of driving one. Driving a Rolls Royce is the motoring equal of assembly a member of the Royal Household; there may be an immense quantity of stress if you’re taking a automotive like this with a 6.75 litre V12 down a Sussex highway.

I’ve by no means skilled a sensation prefer it. You hear concerning the experience high quality, however it’s one thing else – then once more every automotive is – however the best way it absorbed the bumps and highway over the tarmac was beautiful. This isn’t a observe automotive, however via the corners it stayed stage and true. It was terrific and also you felt like pinching your self at each junction. It’s an automotive encounter that stays with you.

Christopher and the Alpine A110 R

Christopher and the Alpine A110 R (Picture: Christopher Sharp)

Third place: Alpine A110 R (£96,990)

Full disclosure, I’ve pushed the Alpine A110 R earlier than. I drove it on the SMMT Check Day final 12 months and I stated it was the most effective automotive I drove in 2025. Nevertheless, there a giant distinction between driving a automotive at highway speeds and driving it at observe speeds with an expert racing driver teaching you.

This was one thing else. The Alpine A110 R is gentle, low to the bottom, and all concerning the corners. In your harness you’re strapped to the automotive that fizzes and buzzes as you undergo the corners and also you hear the engine revs rise as you tear down straights the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart, the late Sir Stirling Moss, and the nice Juan Manuel Fangio tore down within the Nineteen Fifties and 60s.

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One of the best ways to explain such mixture of stimulae is that driving at excessive speeds via corners is a ballet of ready. Ready for the suitable second to brake as you come right into a nook at over 100mph, ready to get again to full energy you steadiness bleeding out the brakes till the suitable second you may again on the throttle. It was a studying expertise akin to studying to reel – the Scottish type.