Driving to Spanish GP
Discussion
A friend are I are in the early stages of planning a road trip to the Spanish GP this year and are looking for some advice.
- We'll be driving from North-west Kent in my Z4 Coupe and would like an interesting/scenic journey but we also need to consider the travelling time (I need to keep this to a very long weekend for wife reasons
). Any advice on routes to take? I'm thinking something scenic to get down there and just hammer it back up the motorway. Anyone done this? Any recommended routes through the Pyrenees?
- We'll probably camp so any suggestions of stopping places on the above routes and thoughts on the official campsite appreciated. Happy to use a guest house for stopover on the way there/back and just use the tent for Barcelona
- Depending on cost we'll presumably be taking the Dover-Calais ferry or Eurotunnel. Are there any tricks to getting either of these cheaper than standard price? And any issues with boarding a (standard) Z4 Sport?
- Currently thinking of leaving early Thursday, arrive Barcalona late Friday, leave early Monday and arrive home late Tuesday - is this in any way doable (especially if we want a more interesting drive down)? Maybe Wednesday - Tuesday would be better (that's still a "long weekend", right?)
- Lastly, I can get a list of stuff we need to drive in France/Spain (lens covers, hi-viz etc) but anything else we should be taking? Car will be MOT'd and BMW serviced (Full) a month before we go and running on RFTs so should be mechanically sound enough to get us there and back.
Any other thoughts/tips much appreciated.
- We'll be driving from North-west Kent in my Z4 Coupe and would like an interesting/scenic journey but we also need to consider the travelling time (I need to keep this to a very long weekend for wife reasons
). Any advice on routes to take? I'm thinking something scenic to get down there and just hammer it back up the motorway. Anyone done this? Any recommended routes through the Pyrenees?- We'll probably camp so any suggestions of stopping places on the above routes and thoughts on the official campsite appreciated. Happy to use a guest house for stopover on the way there/back and just use the tent for Barcelona
- Depending on cost we'll presumably be taking the Dover-Calais ferry or Eurotunnel. Are there any tricks to getting either of these cheaper than standard price? And any issues with boarding a (standard) Z4 Sport?
- Currently thinking of leaving early Thursday, arrive Barcalona late Friday, leave early Monday and arrive home late Tuesday - is this in any way doable (especially if we want a more interesting drive down)? Maybe Wednesday - Tuesday would be better (that's still a "long weekend", right?)
- Lastly, I can get a list of stuff we need to drive in France/Spain (lens covers, hi-viz etc) but anything else we should be taking? Car will be MOT'd and BMW serviced (Full) a month before we go and running on RFTs so should be mechanically sound enough to get us there and back.
Any other thoughts/tips much appreciated.
If it were me I'd go fast down and meander back, this means that you can fairly accurately time your arrival, get setup in wherever you're going to stay and do a bit of a reccy before needing to be at the race for the start. If you meander down you run the risk of not being near enough to the circuit if you're delayed anywhere.
The problem you're going to have with either route though is the distance and the time to travel that distance. According to the AA route planner http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp Calais Ferry Port to the circuit de Catalunya is 808 miles and 11 hours 31 minutes that's using the motorway all the way. It doesn't include comfort or petrol stops or traffic hold ups, there's also toll charges to consider. It's also routed via Paris which if you've never driven on the perifique before is an experience in itself. Do you intend to get your friend insured on the car so he can share the driving? It might be a good idea.
You may want to consider hiring a larger car and take the wife? She and your friends partner can then go shopping and seeing the sights in Barcelona while you're at the race? Which shoud then mean more time to meander back.
Here's a couple of websites for accommodation in France should you need it.
http://en.gites-de-france.com/?file=k_redirect.php
http://www.campsitesinfrance.co.uk/
As for prices well the earlier you book the cheaper it's likely to be. You might want to look at some of the bucket websites for ferry crossings like Ferrysavers.
If I was meandering back I'd try to take in the Millau bridge as already suggested (seems stupid not to when you're down that way) and a route up the West side of France aiming for Le Mans, and the Loire valley would be a good shout.
The problem you're going to have with either route though is the distance and the time to travel that distance. According to the AA route planner http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp Calais Ferry Port to the circuit de Catalunya is 808 miles and 11 hours 31 minutes that's using the motorway all the way. It doesn't include comfort or petrol stops or traffic hold ups, there's also toll charges to consider. It's also routed via Paris which if you've never driven on the perifique before is an experience in itself. Do you intend to get your friend insured on the car so he can share the driving? It might be a good idea.
You may want to consider hiring a larger car and take the wife? She and your friends partner can then go shopping and seeing the sights in Barcelona while you're at the race? Which shoud then mean more time to meander back.
Here's a couple of websites for accommodation in France should you need it.
http://en.gites-de-france.com/?file=k_redirect.php
http://www.campsitesinfrance.co.uk/
As for prices well the earlier you book the cheaper it's likely to be. You might want to look at some of the bucket websites for ferry crossings like Ferrysavers.
If I was meandering back I'd try to take in the Millau bridge as already suggested (seems stupid not to when you're down that way) and a route up the West side of France aiming for Le Mans, and the Loire valley would be a good shout.
Many thanks for the responses. Unfortunately a good friend has just changed the weekend of his stag do and, of the 52 in a year, chose this weekend which means our plans for the Spanish GP are off.
Look out for a similar thread from me about driving to the Belgian or German Grand Prix!
Look out for a similar thread from me about driving to the Belgian or German Grand Prix!
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