Yes, you’re reading the title of this post correctly. I have had the opportunity and the privilege to drive a Ferrari through the streets of Abu Dhabi. During this drive, I was told that I’m the slowest driver ever driving a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which in contrast is one of the fastest Ferraris.
Driving a Ferrari
You might wonder how I managed to drive one of the cars that some people can only dream of. I simply attended a launch party for the new Ferrari California T in Abu Dhabi. The reason my friends and I attended the party was for the food and drinks and consequently that was all there was. There was no presentation of the car, and only around 15 people were present. This wasn’t really what I expected a car launch to be like. They did have one car related event, namely a lottery where you could win a test drive in the new Ferrari California T. Out of 15 people I was the one who won.
I didn’t think I would actually get to drive the car. They didn’t even ask if I have a driver’s license when I submitted my business card, but when I arrived at the shop I found out that I was expected to indeed drive the car.
Also, they offered me the opportunity to drive the F12 Berlinetta, which apparently is considerably faster than the California T.
At first I was super nervous. I thought the car would race off the moment I touched the gas pedal lightly. However, it turns out that the Ferrari is just like a normal car. The only thing that gives it away is the powerful sound of the engine and the fact that everyone is staring at you in the streets. If you get the chance to drive one, you might want to fix your hair because you’ll feature in a lot of pictures.
One of the main things that’s different from a normal car is that every time there’s a bump in the road you have to press a button to lift up the car. Otherwise you’ll crash into the bump. The car doesn’t feel feisty at all; it feels very controlled. In fact it feels very secure.
Having said all that, I was still super careful. The girl who was driving with me told me I was probably the slowest person to ever drive a Ferrari. In my defence, she made me sign a form that any traffic offences (including speeding tickets) would be my responsibility. I didn’t feel keen to cough up big sums of money just for a few seconds of “fun”. Also, weaving through traffic to keep the speed up is not really my thing. So, I didn’t mind being the slowest driver ever, because I also managed to stay safe and my money is still in my wallet.
However, there is one event that stands out in my mind and I would agree that it was a bit embarrassing. I was on the left lane, which turned into a left turn, so I had to move one lane to the right to continue straight on. I was waiting for a car to pass me by and when he did and I moved to the correct lane, the light in front of me turned yellow. I stopped… I know that the car I was driving could’ve gone from 0 to 100 km/h in 3s, but I stopped the car. Even worse, I had to wait a few seconds for the light to go from yellow to red. That was a bit embarrassing…
Ferrari World – Theme Park
If this blog post is about driving a Ferrari I might as well include Ferrari World in the same story. It’s the world’s first Ferrari Theme Park. It is also the world’s largest indoor theme park, which is incredibly important in hot and humid Abu Dhabi. You can basically visit this park year round. You can find the theme park on Yas Island.
I’ve visited the park twice in two years; to be honest, it’s very fun for children and OK for adults. There are not many thrilling rides. I don’t really mind to be honest because after around two rides I usually feel sick.
The main attraction is Formula Rossa which is the fastest roller-coaster in the world. I can’t describe the feeling when you shoot away from 0 to 240km/h. It’s a thrill and it would be worth visiting the park just for this experience.
Another nice thrilling ride is the Fiorano GT Challenge. This one is nothing unusual though and you can find it in different theme parks. This ride has two competing coasters, so you could “race” your friends.
Ferrari World also has an abundance of Ferraris (that’s not really surprising is it?). There are museums and shows and videos that demonstrate how the Ferrari works.
This park guarantees family fun, because there are a lot of slower rides that would be perfect for children.
If you’re in Abu Dhabi it would be a nice place to check out, especially if you’re into Ferraris. If you’re not I’m sure that the adrenaline thrill of Formula Rossa might be able to convince you as well.
Conclusion
Driving a Ferrari was really cool! It’s probably one of the most special things I have done in all my years of travel, especially since it was something I had won rather than an organised/tourist event. The fact that I was the slowest driver ever didn’t really kill my enjoyment, but it might have limited the rush a little bit. Luckily, Ferrari World was a quick visit away where I could safely get the rush in the form of the faster rollercoaster in the world.
Home > Middle East > United Arab Emirates
