Best driving experiences for petrolheads

While you may be sure that a driving experience is what you want to be a gift, exactly which driving experience can be the tricky part. The Ultimate Driving Voucher addresses this issue by offering a remarkable 450 activities to choose from all over the UK, from driving single-seater racers to film cars to tanks to supercars to diggers, so you can’t go wrong. It's valid for 24 months, for two people so your recipient can take whoever they want along.

Driving supercars is a fairly safe bet for a driving experience. No petrolhead is going to object to the opportunity to drive a Lamborghini Aventador, McLaren 720S or Ferrari 488. The participant can choose two of these three supercars to drive a distance of six miles each. The minimum age is 17 and must hold a full license, valid for 18 months and offered with a Risk-Free Guarantee.

While the supercar driving experience above is fantastic, the only drawback of it is that the driving distance is quite short. This supercar driving experience throws five supercars into the mix, thus pushing the total driving distance up to 30 miles. From Ferraris and Lamborghinis to Porsches and Aston Martins, there’s something that’s bound to appeal to almost every supercar fan. This voucher is valid for 12 months.

While most of us adore classic British cars, almost none of us can quite bring ourselves to buy one because the perception is they're more trouble than they're worth. The Best of British drive lets you choose from an Aston Martin V8 Coupe, Aston Martin DB5 replica, Jaguar E-Type, Ford Escort MK1, Mini Cooper, or Lotus Cortina. The voucher is valid for 12 months from purchase and the minimum age is 17.

Hardcore off-road buggies are every bit as quick as supercars, with a less refined edge to really add to the excitement. The buggy on offer in this driving experience is the Rage Hurricane, which has 140bhp and does 0-60mph in four seconds. During this drive, the participant will be tutored by a professional, in order to drive the Rage at speed and learn driving techniques, including the famous Scandinavian flick. Minimum age is 11, valid for 18 months and offered with a Risk-Free Guarantee.

Continuing with the off-road theme is a half-day drive in a rally car. So often, driving experiences don't last long enough, or a petrolhead is more of a rally fan. This experience kills both those birds in one fell swoop. Like the Rage buggy driving, the participant spends time with a professional, learning rally driving techniques. Minimum age is 17 and must hold a full license, valid for 18 months and offered with a Risk-Free Guarantee.

The car fan you're buying for may well be an avid muscle car enthusiast, in which case driving a trio of either modern or classic V8 brutes. Picture them blasting around in a 1965 Ford Mustang or a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, this American car experience will be something out of a movie. There are many locations available around the UK, though car selection varies depending on location. The voucher is valid for 12 months from purchase.

Drifting is one of those activities that looks impressive, and despite it probably being harder than it looks we all reckon we’d be good at it. Regardless of your skill level, it’s always fun to take part. On offer here is a full day's worth of drifting, honing skills with the guidance of a professional tutor. Participants drive a BMW 3-Series or a Nissan 350Z. The minimum age is 17 and must hold a full licence, and it's valid for 18 months and offered with a Risk-Free Guarantee.

Off-roading provides a different sort of excitement to high-speed circuit driving. The feeling of negotiating a hostile terrain is hugely thrilling. This particular off-road drive takes place on a number of courses, including an abandoned quarry. Drivers will be with a professional tutor in order to enjoy the drive, rather than constantly be stuck. Minimum age is 17 and must hold a full license, valid for 18 months and offered with a Risk-Free Guarantee.

Using military hardware out of a warzone provides a true feeling of invincibility that is impossible to replicate. During this experience you’ll have the opportunity to drive a 17-tonne tank for two laps around Armourgeddon in Leicestershire, with one lap being guided by periscope. As part of the experience, you’ll even get free entry into the onsite military museum and collection. The minimum age is 17 and a driving license is required.

Last but not least is a stunt driving session. Here, participants drive a selection of fast Fords through a range of challenges, such a timed slalom, J turns, drifting, and handbrake parallel parking. Available at two locations: Darlington and Silverstone. The minimum age is 17.