A great gift for any driving or car lover
A great gift for any driving or car lover
Learn all winter driving skills and skid control at our own skid pan driver training centre at the spectacular Donington Park race circuit.
Only £115
Book online
A skid pan driving experience is a driving session designed to teach drivers how to handle a vehicle in slippery or low-traction conditions, such as on wet or icy roads. This takes place on a specialised track called a “skid pan” – the surface is treated to replicate challenging road conditions in a safe, controlled environment. Drivers practice managing the following under the guidance of professional instructors:
This experience enhances driving confidence and safety skills, preparing participants to handle real-world emergencies. It’s both educational and fun, while also reducing the risk of accidents by improving control and reaction times.
Our skid pan experience & training is not only a brilliant way to improve your driving skills and help deal with situations where your car is likely to break traction and skid, but it’s also a very unique and enjoyable driving experience that many participate in just for leisure!
If you’re looking for gifts for a car lover, but are a little stuck for ideas, a skid pan driving experience day could be just what you’re looking for. The skid pan experience is 1 ½ hours long and starts by covering some safety and theory to help provide each participant with an understanding of skids, as well as making the in-car experience more valuable. You’ll then progress to the driving stage where you’ll learn from both the driver’s seat and the passenger seat, under the watchful eyes of our experienced and patient skid trainers.
Surprise your friends or family this gift with our exciting skid pan driving experience day.
On arrival, you will be asked to sign an indemnity form. Your training session could be shared with two other drivers/learners taking turns to drive.
Your skid pan driving experience will commence with a safety and theory briefing about how and why a car skids. This will cover the 4 common causes of a skid and provide each participant with an understanding to make the in-car experience more valuable.
After transferring to the skid car area, you will then spend up to 1 ½ hours in the car, learning from both the driver’s seat and the passenger seat, under the watchful eyes of our experienced and patient skid trainers. Your experience may be shared with up to 2 other drivers/learners, which means that you will get around 30 minutes of driving time. Our cars are standard saloons with manual gearboxes.
You will learn about, and experience: understeer, oversteer, aquaplaning and driving in snow and on ice. The skid pan experience will provide basic instruction on control and prevention of understeer, oversteer, weight transfer, and the correct use of throttle and brakes.
Whether you’re driving for business or pleasure, Britain’s winter weather means that most drivers will at some point find themselves in a situation where the car is likely to break traction and skid. Our uniquely enjoyable skid pan experience teaches valuable driving skills in a risk-free environment, and we’re confident you’ll leave Donington Park a better, safer road user.
Following a short safety briefing, you will venture to our skid pan area for a skid pan experience based on a hydraulic skid frame built specially for the purpose. You’ll understand what makes a car skid and experience the feeling of loss of car control on ice and water and then, most importantly, you’ll learn how to react quickly to put you back in control!
Minimum age: 17 years old
Minimum height: 5ft
Maximum height: 6ft 4in
Maximum weight: 18 stone
Participants should be in reasonable health
The Skid Pan course is suitable for all types of drivers and because it’s RED owned, we’re also able to run the course for those who have still to pass their driving test.
But, if that’s the case, we insist that you are currently trained to a level where you are competent with car control.
Guests are welcome but please note that ‘viewing’ of the experience may not be possible due to health & safety and other on-site activities, in which case guests will be able to wait at the reception area or use the ‘public’ café on site when open.
OUR BOOKING PROCESS
Buy a skid pan experience voucher by calling the RED team or by clicking the ‘Book Now’ button to buy online using a credit or debit card through our PayPal portal.
We’ll then send you an E-voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient. You can then call the team to book your experience.
Your voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and you must ‘book’ your experience before the expiry date.
Yes, our skid pan courses run throughout the year. It is a valuable skill that can be taught anytime but may be most useful in the winter when it is snowing and icy.
Skid pan training will provide drivers with the skills necessary to quickly control a car in the event of a skid. You will also be taught what the 4 most common causes of skidding are and how to prevent them.
The course is suitable for all types of drivers and because it’s RED-owned, we’re also able to run the course for those who have still to pass their driving test. But, if that’s the case, we insist that you are currently trained to a level where you are competent with car control, and this may need to be confirmed by your driving instructor.
Unfortunately, our skid pan experience is only available during the week. For more information on availability, please give our team a call on 0330 332 2680.
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