A great gift for any
driver or car lover

A great gift for any driver or car lover

FIRSTDRIVE – First Driver Experience

Our RED FIRSTDRIVE driving experience is open to anyone aged 11 and over, allowing a young driver to gain their first experience behind the wheel much earlier than they would on the open road.

£89 – voucher valid for 12 months.

Book online

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The RED FIRSTDRIVE Experience

Give young drivers their very first taste of freedom with RED FIRSTDRIVE – an exciting introduction to life behind the wheel. This unique experience is designed to let young drivers start building real driving skills long before they venture onto public roads.

It's the perfect gift for any young driving enthusiast. Combining fun, confidence-building and essential early experience in a safe, controlled setting.

Each participant drives a fully dual-controlled car, with a professional instructor by their side at all times. This ensures maximum safety while they learn core skills such as steering control, moving off, braking and basic manoeuvres. Step by step, confidence grows as they begin to understand how a car feels and responds.

The experience takes place on a private tarmac area at the renowned RED Donington Driver Training Centre, providing a calm, traffic-free environment where beginners can focus, learn and enjoy every moment. Led by DVSA-approved instructors and built around a strong commitment to safety, FIRSTDRIVE leaves young drivers feeling proud, capable and excited to take the next step on their driving journey.

The FIRSTDRIVE experience includes:

Driver's welcome and short safety briefing
Basic vehicle introduction: Get to know the essential controls of the car
Learning to move and stop the vehicle safely
Steering control exercises: Steering through cones and simple tasks to build coordination
Building confidence behind the wheel through practice
Debrief and a certificate to mark your achievement

Where do I need to go?

All experiences are hosted at Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP

What do I need to know?

Minimum age is 16 years
Minimum height is 1.4 metres
Please wear comfortable clothing and a pair of trainers that you will not mind getting dirty
In wet weather a change of clothes is advisable
There will be a maximum of 3 other participants in the vehicle with you
This experience will last approximately 1½ hours
All dates are subject to availability

What's included?

Introduction and safety briefing with a fully trained instructor
Approximately 1½ hours of training in the vehicle with an instructor, learning different skills to learning how to drive.

Participant Guidelines

Age

There is a minimum age of 16 years old.

Height, Weight and Health

Minimum Height: 147.00 cm
Maximum Height: 198.00 cm
Maximum Weight: 114.00 kg
Participants should be in reasonable health

Licence Requirements

The FIRSTDRIVE driving experience is suitable for all first-time drivers with a provisional licence. The instructor will be in the vehicle at all times and will have dual control of the vehicle. We will need evidence of a provisional licence before the day of the event.

Guests

Guests will be unable to spectate this activity. However, they will be able to wait at the reception area or use the 'public' café on-site when open.

Create a bundle and save

Add an extra driving experience to your day for 10% off – then add a friend and get a further 10% off your total driving package!

Book 2 driving experiences and save 10%

Book now ›

Take your drive up a gear

Looking to make the most of your driving experience day? Book a 4x4 driving experience and add on either Skidpan, Advanced Driving skills or Caterham auto-test with a 10% discount on your total booking cost.

Book a bundled driving experience package

Bring a friend and save an additional 10%

Book now ›

Level up your driving experience day with friends and family

Looking to upskill your driving and have fun along the way? Take advantage of our special offer of an additional 10% off your total experience day price when you bring friends or family along with you!

Book with family and friends

Our booking process

Buy a FIRSTDRIVE experience voucher by calling the RED team or by clicking the 'Book Now' button to buy online. We'll then send an e-voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient. Please note, buying an e-voucher online does not secure the FIRSTDRIVE experience – yourself or the participant can call the team to book the day and time.

The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and the experience must be booked before the expiry date.

Book now

FAQs

The FIRSTDRIVE experience is open to anyone aged 11 or over, making it an ideal early introduction to driving.

Each session includes a minimum of 1 hour of in-car driving time and an initial safety and theory briefing to familiarise participants with car controls.

FIRSTDRIVE sessions are available during school holidays and weekends. Be sure to book early, as spaces fill up quickly!

The experience is held at the world-famous Donington Park Circuit, providing a professional and safe environment for young drivers to learn the basics.

Absolutely! All vehicles are equipped with dual controls, and our DVSA-approved instructors are experienced in working with young drivers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.