Driving Experiences in Regional Victoria

Driving experiences in Regional Victoria run from F1-style Formula Ford laps on a real track at Wodonga to stunt driving and defensive driving courses at Sandown Raceway, in Melbourne's south-east. Every one comes with professional instruction, and the track experiences supply the helmet and safety gear. If you're building a driving day into a longer trip, the things to do in Regional Victoria page covers what else is nearby.

F1-style race car driving at Wodonga

The Wodonga experiences run at the Wodonga Tafe Driver Training Complex on Albertson Road, Barnawartha North, close to the New South Wales border. You drive an F1-style Formula Ford seated only inches above the ground, with a professional race car driver coaching you and no rev-limiters holding the car back. Helmet, race suit and boots are supplied, and coffee, tea and water are included.

The main choice is how long you want in the car. The 5-lap Formula Ford drive is the shortest way in and suits all skill levels. The 10-lap F1-style drive gives you time to settle in and start picking up speed, and the 20-lap Wodonga drive is run as an enduro, with room to shave time off each lap.

If you'd like to ride as well as drive, the Formula Ford drive and hot laps combo adds two hot laps in a 2-seater F1-style car with a professional at the wheel after a 5-lap drive of your own. Sessions start at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm, and each experience is listed as a 3-hour block.

Stunt driving at Sandown Raceway

The stunt driving experiences are based at Sandown Raceway in Springvale, so they sit in Melbourne rather than out in the regions. The 90-minute Melbourne stunt driving course puts you at the wheel of a modified Toyota 86 with an instructor beside you. You learn 180-degree handbrake turns, build up to 360-degree spins on a split-surface pad, and finish with a timed motorkhana.

If you'd rather hold on than steer, the Melbourne stunt driving Wild Ride is a passenger experience in a modified Mini Cooper, with an expert driver doing the handbrake turns, spins, jumps and two-wheeling. Family and friends can stay for the whole session and take photos and videos. Both stunt experiences finish with a certificate.

Defensive driving course at Sandown

The Level 1 defensive driving course at Sandown Raceway is a popular choice for anyone who wants practical skills rather than speed. It's a full-day course built around 12 golden rules of safe driving, with qualified instructors covering vehicle dynamics, braking technique and how to spot road hazards before they become problems.

It's well suited to L-plate and P-plate drivers. You drive your own car, so it needs to be road-ready. The day starts at 8.15am, with arrival no later than 8am, and runs until roughly 4pm.

How to choose between the driving experiences

Pick the Wodonga drives if you want to feel a single-seater race car at full commitment. Pick the stunt course to learn car control, or the Wild Ride if you want the thrill without driving. Pick the defensive course if the goal is becoming a safer driver, not a faster one.

Wodonga is near the New South Wales border, so it fits best as a stop on a trip through north-east Victoria. The Sandown options are in Melbourne's south-east, so they slot into a city stay.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence for the F1-style driving experiences in Wodonga?

Yes. Drivers bring their licence to the Wodonga F1-style Formula Ford experiences, and participants must hold a P-standard manual licence and be able to operate a manual gearbox.

What happens if it rains during a Wodonga race car driving experience?

The Wodonga F1-style Formula Ford experiences are outdoor events and go ahead in wet or damp conditions. If the supplier judges the track unsafe in extreme weather, the session is rescheduled to another date.

How long does the stunt driving experience at Sandown Raceway take?

The Melbourne Stunt Driving Experience is a 90-minute course at Sandown Raceway, and the Wild Ride passenger experience runs as a 1.5-hour experience.

Can under-18s do the Melbourne stunt driving Wild Ride?

Participants in the Melbourne Stunt Driving Wild Ride must be 16 or older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the day, and the stunt driving school needs to be told at the time of booking.

What do I bring to the defensive driving course at Sandown Raceway?

Bring your current driver's licence, your own vehicle with a full tank of fuel and checked tyre pressures, water and oil levels, plus comfortable clothing, driving shoes, a hat, sunscreen, lunch and drinks.

Book your Regional Victoria driving experience online and choose the day that matches how fast, or how careful, you want to drive.