Perth is home to some of Western Australia’s most exhilarating outdoor activities. Local businesses offering these packages are now thriving thanks to the ever-growing interest in unique, thrilling adventures. One particular activity that is wildly popular is race car driving experiences. You may have even seen friends sharing photos or videos of their once-in-a-lifetime experience on Facebook or Instagram.
Racecar driving or motor racing is typically reserved for elite drivers, hitting the tarmac in high-profile competitive races and thrilling thousands of spectators with their performance. However, getting your kicks behind the wheel has become increasingly accessible to all kinds of people, even those who aren’t really “into cars”. As the activity attracts motorsports fans, thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, race car driving is now fast becoming the next essential bucket list experience.
If you want to find the best places in Perth for a fantastic driving experience fix, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we list the best places to book a driving experience in Perth, giving you a thrill unlike anything else. Whether you want a short 15-minute dose of adrenaline or a full day of nothing but pure energy, this list of hands-on car racing experiences will get you hyped up and ready to go.
Are you all set? Buckle up, and let’s go!
Drift School WA
Location:
Wanneroo Raceway
What They Do:
Drift School WA is the number one place to learn to drift in Perth, hands down. Focused on giving guests an unforgettable and authentic experience, Drift School WA a range of drifting experience packages that are sure to get your blood pumping. As the name suggests, Drift School WA offers genuine drift coaching for eager participants, but if you’re not keen to get behind the wheel yourself, you can also book some incredible drifting hot laps alongside a pro driver – suitable for anyone aged 12 and up.
What to Expect:
Drift School WA has a wide array of drifting courses that everyone will love; no experience needed! They offer hands-on coaching for beginners, intermediate drifters, and even experts looking to hone their skills. If you’re serious about the art of drifting, they can even teach you how to drift using your very own car! That’s something you can’t find anywhere else. Where else do you get the chance to master a unique skill like drifting? That’s just one of the many reasons Drift School WA is a must-try activity in Perth.
Cost:
Hot laps from $99
Drifting lessons from $199
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
Fastrack V8 Race Experience
Location:
Barbagallo Raceway
What They Do:
Fastrack V8 Race Experience is one of the bigger companies offering car racing experiences across Australia. In Perth, the Fastrack operates from Barbagallo Raceway, Western Australia’s only full-length circuit. They can also be found in eight other Supercar championship racetracks in seven states. Intending to make motorsports more than just a spectator sport, Fastrack has had over 300,000 people in the hot seat since they first began.
What to Expect:
Fastrack V8 Race Experience offers a variety of packages for different driving experience needs. They have ride-only hot laps, hands-on race car driving, and ride + drive experiences in custom-built cars. Prices vary from $65 to $170 per lap as participants may also get to enjoy premium drawcards such as a hot lap ride with driver George “Hollywood” Elliot. If you want a friend or a family member to be with you during your driving experience session, they’re welcome to tag along and watch.
Cost:
Hot laps from $220
Drive laps from $340
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
Rally School
Location:
Bakers Hill
What They Do:
Another Perth drive experience operator that you might want to check out is Rally School. Run by a team of professionals with years of experience as rally drivers, this might be your thing if you’re more of an off-road type. The Rally School racing track is located an hour away from suburban Perth, in the Bakers Hill region. This location has the typical Western Australia topography – expect a dirty and dusty drive!
What to Expect:
Rally School has a selection of exciting experiences designed for both riders and drivers. Aside from rally car driving experiences where participants can get behind the wheel of the car, Rally School also offers rally hot laps, where an expert rally driver takes you for a spin in your choice of car. This gives the participant the chance to experience rally driving in a safe, fun environment.
Rate:
Hot laps from $135
Drive laps from $235
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
Rally Action Driver Training
Location:
Bakers Hill
What They Do:
A group of Perth rally competitors are the minds behind Rally Action Driver Training (RADT). A staple in many motorsport events across Western Australia, the team has been on the scene for years. Like most drive experience companies, RADT offers an all-in rally driving experience. That means that the participants get to experience what it’s like to be a rally driver without those long hours of training and practice.
What to Expect:
If you want to experience what it is like to be a professional race car driver, RADT delivers the goods, with both track and gravel racing packages. RADT has a list of experience packages that drivers of all levels and competency are sure to enjoy. If you’re a budding competitive driver, RADT even has a more serious training package for those who want to compete professionally in motorsport.
Cost:
Hot laps from $99
Driving experiences from $299
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
Perth Motorplex
Location:
Kwinana Beach
What They Do:
On any list of the top motorsports destinations in Perth, there’s no way you can leave out the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana Beach. The Perth Motorplex is mainly known for a wide variety of extreme automotive events, but the venue also offers packages for drivers and riders who want to experience the thrill of racing. So, whether you’re a newbie with minimal experience or a pro ready to hit the track and take home the trophy, the Perth Motorplex is for you!
What to Expect:
The Perth Motorplex hosts many of Perth’s biggest motorsports events, like Whoop Ass Wednesdays featuring drag racing, burnout competitions and themed events every week. The Motorplex also offers other courses that help all kinds of drivers hone their skills behind the wheel. At Perth Motorplex, participants can take part in defensive driving training, on-road training, gravel driving course training, heavy vehicle defensive training and more through Performance Driving Australia.
Gift Vouchers Available:
No
Fast Lane Racing
Location:
Wanneroo Raceway
What They Do:
Fast Lane Racing Driver School is one of the most prestigious motorsport training schools in Western Australia. Owned by former Formula One engineer Brett Lupton, Fast Lane Racing is the perfect place for those who want to get serious about competitive car racing. Fast Lane is also Perth’s only Formula Ford Race School qualified to run the 24 lap experience.
What to Expect:
Fast Lane Racing’s complete race day experience packages are created with virtually all types of drivers in mind. For this reason, the company has courses that can be enjoyed by newbies, curious car lovers, serious car enthusiasts, and even pro racecar drivers. This is the deluxe experience in race track tuition, so be prepared to hit the track with some serious focus and commitment.
Cost:
Driving experiences from $549
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
V8 Drive Day Perth
Location:
Wanneroo Raceway
What They Do:
If you’re looking for fun driving experiences in Perth, V8 Drive Day Perth operates from Wanneroo Raceway. V8 Drive Day is operated by an experienced team that are always excited to share their knowledge and skills with fans and thrill-seekers.
What to Expect:
V8 Drive Day offers both hot laps and driving experience packages suitable for everyone. For ride packages, you have an option to ride with a pro driver either in the back seat or the front passenger seat, and prices vary depending on your choice. For drive packages, you’ll get a combination of sighting laps and fast laps. You can also opt for VIP Specials which let you combine rider and driver features with a few bonuses.
Cost:
Hot laps from $99
Driving experiences from $299
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
Off-Road Rush WA
Location:
Neerabup
What They Do:
Off-Road Rush WA is known for its V8 trophy trucks, which run using a V8 Chevy engine. A trophy truck is a racing vehicle similar to a land cruiser and about three times the buggy size. Trophy trucks are kitted out with roll bars and safety gear to make them safe, even for non-professionals. In Australia, these trucks are used for desert driving and off-road races.
What to Expect:
Off-Road Rush WA understands the thrill that high-speed, off-road races bring. That is why the company has designed drive and ride experience packages that allow participants to get behind the wheel of an actual competition V8 trophy truck. Participants will have a truckload of fun as a desert or off-road ride on a trophy truck is certainly not a smooth cruise.
Cost:
Hot laps from $199
Driving experiences from $249
Gift Vouchers Available:
Yes
Perth Driving Experience FAQs
How long do driving experiences last?
The shortest racing hot lap experiences usually last around an hour, with 5 to 10 minutes of ride time. Usually, the full racecar experience – from basic orientation until you leave the race track – takes around 60 minutes or longer. Driving packages will involve a longer time spent at the racetrack, from a few hours up to a full day, depending on the type of driving experience you book.
How much do driving experiences in Perth cost?
Driving experience costs can vary significantly from package to package. Some packages, which can be as affordable as $99, can give you a fun experience riding with a pro driver (hot laps). Other more engaging motorsports experiences can offer more hands-on race car driving options using specially modified vehicles, with an instructor to teach you everything you need to know. These exciting experiences cost around $200 and up, depending on how long you want to spend behind the wheel.
Are driving experiences safe?
Driving experiences are generally very safe. Many companies that offer these intense experiences have No Harm Policies and make their customers’ safety and security their top priority. Instructors are experienced motorsports drivers and coaches, and lessons are designed to maximise safety at all times. Safety gear is provided for all attendees. Additionally, driving experience participants must attend a short safety briefing before the sessions to ensure that they understand how to participate safely.
Are corporate packages available for Perth driving experiences?
Yes. Numerous companies now offer corporate packages for their driving experiences. With more businesses currently looking for out-of-the-box team building ideas for employees, the demand for group booking driving experiences has been steadily rising over the last few years.
In addition, a lot of driving experience companies now have custom packages where participants can choose the type of activity, duration, and service they want, which means that bigger groups can now get to enjoy these activities together. The best approach is to get in touch with the experience provider to talk about your requirements.
Can you give these Perth driving experiences as a gift?
Yes. Most companies now give their customers an option to purchase car racing experience vouchers as a gift, either sending a paper gift voucher or an eGift card. This ‘experience gift’ trend is growing in popularity as people choose to gift once-in-a-lifetime activities rather than physical items. With passenger hot-laps and hands-on driving experiences, these gift cards make great gifts for kids and teens and adults.
Are hot laps and driving experiences safe for people with heart conditions?
As with most extreme sports and activities like theme park rides, participants with health concerns are urged to consult their doctor before signing up for an experience. As the excitement and heart rate increase of a thrill experience could trigger preexisting health conditions, it is wise to seek medical advice beforehand. It’s up to participants to do their diligence and ensure they’re healthy enough to handle a bit of excitement!
Do I need to have a valid driver’s license for a motorsports experience?
For ride experiences, companies generally do not require participants to hold a driver’s license. For driving experiences, on the other hand, requirements vary – some companies do not allow guests to book a package without a valid driver’s license. However, companies that operate at facilities built especially for motorsports (like Drift School WA) do not require a driver’s license to participate. However, you must be able to handle a manual transmission vehicle with confidence.