Sicily, home of the famed Targa Florio, Mount Etna, some of the best driver's roads around and (er) the mafia. The trouble is, this lovely island situated off the coast of Southern Italy is a long way from home and, because of that, it is difficult to integrate it into a normal driving tour.
Things like that don't stop PistonHeads driving partners Petrolhead Nirvana though, and we are proud to present a brand new tour for 2011; the Sicily Hire Car Challenge. We'll be staying in a 4-star beachfront hotel, chosen not only for the facilities but also for the proximity to the best driving roads in the area. The best bit, however, is the fact that we are doing all the driving in someone else's car - a hire car no less. We all know that there is no car faster than a hire car and that many of us enjoy going mental in a rental, so spare a thought for the fleet of Fiat Pandas (or similar) that will be awaiting us at the airport, not knowing that, rather than pootling to the beach, they will be tackling the Targa Florio.
Tour Itinerary: 27th - 30th May 2011
Day one - UK to Sicily: Choose your own flights, (there are direct flights from Stansted and Gatwick to either Trapani or Catania) on Friday morning to begin the adventure. At the airport, your pre-booked (and fully insured) hire car will be waiting for you. Wherever you have chosen to fly into (as long as you make sure it's on Sicily of course - fly elsewhere and we wish you luck) the hotel will only be a short drive away.
Day two - Targa Florio Day:
The Targa Florio was first run in 1906 and was last staged in 1977. Originally the lap was 92 miles long, but this was later cut down to 'just' 44.6 miles and we'll be doing the best bits of it. Described by some drivers as 'totally insane', this route through treacherous mountain roads, with tight hairpins and even climate changes, challenges everyone who drives it. With modern Autostradas taking most of the traffic burden, the back roads of the Targa Florio route are relatively free of traffic and we will be making the most of that, imagining what it would have been like to race those iconic Alfas, Ferraris, Mercedes, Porsches and Lancias at breakneck speeds on the relentless twists and turns, with the dust from the fields meaning grip was limited at best.
Day three - Mount Etna Day: Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanos in the world, with the last lava eruption taking place in 2008. The volcano's activity shapes the geological landscape, and is full of incredible features, helping to create the mountain roads that snake up and around the 88-mile diameter base. After the intensity of Saturday we can (if you want to) take things at a more relaxed pace, as we are heading back to the same hotel. On day three you will have the choice of following the planned driving route or can leave the car and take some time out to do some exploring of your own - the choice is yours.
Day four - Sicily to UK: Depending on what time your flight is there may be a chance to either enjoy the hotel facilities one last time, or head out for another drive of your favourite roads. Either way it'll be a sad moment when you hand back the keys to the hire car and board your flight home. That said, you can always come back again next year!
Just imagine - this could be you...
Share of a hire car, 2 Tour Managers, 3 nights 4* beachside hotel accommodation with dinner, bed and breakfast. Sat-nav files, walkie talkies, info packs with route notes, maps and general info.
What's Not? Flights, drinks, lunch, fuel, tolls.
The tour is priced at £599 per person, to reserve your space a deposit payment of £250 is required per person. Give the team a call on +44 (0)845 838 7363 with your credit or debit card ready, and we'll have you booked on tour in no time.
Book before the end of February and you'll qualify for a 10% discount, making it £539 per person
By booking your place on tour, you accept our terms and conditions. Please make sure you've read our (not so) small print here. For more information see here.
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 4 3"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1 1"%3E%3C/svg%3E)