Welcome to PalmerSport

A totally unique motorsport experience without limits

PalmerSport guests spend a full day driving an unrivalled collection of performance cars, against the clock, at Bedford Autodrome. Our spacious run-off areas allow participants the unique freedom to drive harder and faster than anywhere else in the world, with outstanding safety, in an inspiring environment with superb food and hospitality.

PalmerSport offers a heart-stopping, exhilarating and unforgettable driving experience, whether you join us as an individual with family or friends, or as part of a corporate group.

PalmerSport events resumed in MAY 2021. click the COVID-19 link below for information on how we continue to ensure your safety.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Bedford Autodrome soon!


LATEST COVID-19 UPDATE

 
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Our Vehicle Line-Up

Every guest drives every car in an eight-activity programme on our legendary full day event with live timing and awards for the fastest drivers:

PalmerSport - BMW M2 Competition

BMW M2 Competition

The BMW M2 Competition is the most recent piece of Munich mastery to join our line-up. This superb offering from BMW’s legendary M range features a number of enhancements, and has been stripped of its interior luxuries to transform it into a real compact muscle car. Delivering more than 400 bhp from a super-smooth, straight-six, three-litre engine, this performance coupé is a genuine GT thoroughbred. The signature twin-turbo power unit, tuned by BMW’s motorsport division, can howl right up to 7600 rpm, and packs an almighty punch in the mid-ranges. With stiffened suspension, a roll cage and harness, plus a carbon racing rear wing, the BMW M2 Competition is primed to perform. Our instructors will help you to progressively build up your speed until you can extract all of its mind-blowing potential on the super-fast South Circuit.

Full vehicle info
PalmerSport - Palmer JP-LM

Palmer JP-LM

The breath-taking Palmer JP-LM sports prototype will bombard you with all the sensations of a true Le Mans racer. Our instructors will help you unleash all of its staggering acceleration, braking ability and cornering grip on the West Circuit - indeed this is the nearest you’ll get to jumping into a Le Mans prototype and heading off around the famous French circuit! We’ve squeezed every last drop of power from the Cosworth three-litre quad-cam V6 engine for relentless acceleration and impressive straight-line speed. Its superior aerodynamics meanwhile allow the JP-LM to slice through the air and generate staggering downforce. This exquisite racing machine feels like it’s super-glued to the track, carrying what seems like impossible speed round corners. With such phenomenal performance at your disposal, the JP-LM is a mind-bending marvel!

Full vehicle info
PalmerSport - Caterham Palmersport Edition

Caterham Palmersport Edition

Caterhams have featured in the PalmerSport line-up for more than 20 years, and our East Circuit at Bedford Autodrome was even designed as the perfect environment for guests to explore the lightweight sports car to its limits – and beyond! Our exclusive latest edition is the best yet and was personally developed by Jonathan Palmer to offer the most sublime driving experience, with a range of modifications and enhancements. Our Caterham features a 2.5 litre normally-aspirated motor, the biggest engine ever, providing instant throttle response and loads of mid-range torque, so balancing on the throttle becomes a skill everyone can relish. With a full 200 bhp and weighing just 650 kilos, this Caterham accelerates like a rocket, whilst the brilliant SADEV paddle shift gearbox means you can leave your hands on the wheel for all the opposite lock you’ll need! With a larger chassis for more space, rigidity and seating comfort, suspension developed to make drifting an absolute delight, and ultra-light steering for flick-wrist control, chasing lap times has never been this much fun!

Full vehicle info
PalmerSport - Formula 3000

Formula 3000

Many people dream of driving a Formula One car, and PalmerSport's exclusive Formula 3000 single-seater is the closest you’ll ever get to fulfilling that fantasy – and you’ll leave with stunning video footage to prove it! Powered by a Cosworth-developed 3000cc V6 which thumps out 250 bhp at 6500 rpm, the engine growls as its acceleration pushes you deep into your seat. As you work the six-speed paddle shift on the steering wheel, the car is still accelerating hard as it blasts past 100 mph.  With F1-style high-downforce bodywork, the Formula 3000 turns in with massive grip. But when you want to slow it all down, the powerful brakes can slam the car to a halt in seconds. Your fastest lap on our fabulous, flowing West Circuit will be recorded on video to share with friends and family, and you’ll receive it right after your drive, with quick links to share on social media. The top ten fastest laps each year are showcased on the F3000 leaderboard, so you can directly compare your performance.

Full vehicle info
PalmerSport - Renault Clio Cup Racer

Renault Clio Cup Racer

The Renault Clio race car is enormous fun to drive on our fast and furious North Circuit and will leave you grinning from ear to ear! Indeed, this fully manufacturer-developed racing thoroughbred, as raced in the UK Clio Cup championship, is rather like an oversized go kart – super-stiff, nimble and darty. Beneath its road-going facade lies a four-cylinder 1.6 litre turbo engine and a six-speed paddle shift gearbox. And it’s the only PalmerSport car with front-wheel drive, adding a fresh challenge and new skills to master during your day. You’ll tackle the Clio with an instructor at your side, encouraging you to launch this pocket rocket racer through a sequence of challenging corners just like your favourite touring car stars. This bona-fide racing car is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And it’s yours to tame.

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PalmerSport - Land Rover Defender

Land Rover Defender

If you’re expecting our Land Rover Defender to be an easy option after driving our performance racing cars, think again! You’ll need as much skill, concentration and commitment in the mud as you do on the track to successfully negotiate your way down rock-strewn paths, through deep rivers, and up slopes so extreme you’ll scarcely believe even a 4x4 could scale them. You’ll climb so steeply that all you can see through the windscreen is sky, before plunging over what appears to be the edge of a cliff. You’ll negotiate tracks covered in gigantic boulders and waist-deep water and drive onto our infamous see-saw, using nothing but the weight of the car at the pivot point to tilt the platform and drive down the other side. Put your faith in our rugged Defender and listen to your instructor and you’ll emerge from these challenges lost in admiration for this great British institution that has remained unequalled for more than 70 years.

Full vehicle info
PalmerSport - Caterham Pursuit

Caterham Pursuit

Go head-to-head against one of your team-mates in a Caterham for a contest with a difference. You’ll be timed or scored on every activity at PalmerSport, but this battle takes place on two identical mirror-image courses with straights, hairpins and doughnut circles. Don’t be fooled by how simple it looks – balancing grip against power is no mean feat as you slip and slide against the clock! You’ll want to push it to the max, but in a Caterham the dividing line between hero and zero can be a millimetre too much throttle applied a millisecond too early, so you’ll need maximum concentration for perfect powerslides. Plenty of finesse is required too, not least for that innocent-looking roundabout – if you can master tyre-smoking doughnuts, you’ll beat your opponent every time in this best-of-three competition.

Full vehicle info

Bedford Autodrome

PalmerSport - Bedford Autodrome Map
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Keeping you fuelled - high-speed hospitality

PalmerSport - Keeping you fuelled - high-speed hospitality

PalmerSport is about more than just driving. Our entire venue has been engineered to offer comfortable surroundings, all-weather protection and catering of the highest standard. All our suites overlook the track, so even when you are networking or socialising, you are right by the action. And from the moment you arrive, you will be looked after by our exceptional hosts and instructors.

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Jonathan Palmer: Motorsport Maestro

PalmerSport - Jonathan Palmer: Motorsport Maestro

Former F1 driver, BBC commentator and multiple race circuit owner Jonathan Palmer established PalmerSport nearly 30 years ago. He wanted to find a way to share his passion for motorsport, and to recreate the exhilaration that only comes from being behind the wheel of a racing car. That philosophy has endured, and PalmerSport remains the best driving experience in the world and the dominant market leader.

Jonathan Palmer: Motorsport Maestro [1]
Jonathan Palmer: Motorsport Maestro [2]
Jonathan Palmer: Motorsport Maestro [3]
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Upcoming Special Events

Friends and Family Day
Friends and Family Day
Saturday 28 August 2021 - Special Offer

Our next Friends and Family day takes place on Saturday 28 August 2021.

Since we introduced these days they've been a huge hit, so please book early to avoid disappointment and get the whole family and friends involved; up to 12 drivers per team!

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Friends and Family Day

Friends and Family Day

SATURDAY 28 August 2021

This retail only event is available at a special price of just £1,908 including VAT and damage cover* for both guests (additional guests £954 each) saving 10%.  Since we introduced these days they've been a huge hit, so please book early to avoid disappointment and get the whole family and friends involved, up to 12 drivers per team!

Challenge your family members and friends to a full day of driving flat out in our formidable line-up of cars, which includes:

All laptimes are recorded for comparison, so you'll soon know who's fastest and there are awards for the best drivers at the end of the day. The price includes PalmerSport's renowned hospitality and catering, plus vehicle damage cover for all drivers, including under 21s (as long as they've held a licence for at least a year).

For further information or to book, call our sales team on 01403 733999 or email sales@palmersport.com.

Friends and Family events - the important small print
This event is our standard full day driving event with all eight cars and instruction:

  1. Availability is limited - first come first serve basis.
  2. Offer price includes full all-day catering and vehicle damage cover.
  3. To qualify for *vehicle damage cover, all participants must have held a full licence for at least one year and have reasonable driving experience.  Please refer for approval should you not meet these requirements.
  4. All bookings subject to full payment in advance and a signed booking agreement, terms apply.
  5. These terms and rates do not extend to any other events or offers.
  6. Spectators (non-participants) are available @ £55 + VAT including catering (excluding U16's).
  7. This offer is not exclusive to families and friends only, everyone is welcome.
  8. Normal weight and height restrictions are 18 Stone (115 KG), 5' - 6' 4" (153 cm - 193 cm).  Please refer for guests outside these figures.
Extended Driving Event
Extended Driving Event
Saturday 2 October 2021

We're hosting another exclusive extended driving event on Saturday 2 October 2021 with TWO sessions on track in our Renault Clio, F3000 single-seater, Palmer JP-LM and Caterham Seven cars.

Guests will also enjoy an additional single-seater experience in a Formula 4 car.

More information

Extended Driving Event

Extended Driving Event

Saturday 2 October

We're hosting another exclusive extended driving event at Bedford Autodrome on Saturday 2 October, with TWO sessions on track in our Renault Clio Cup Racer, Formula 3000 single-seater, Palmer JP-LM and Caterham Seven cars.

Guests will also enjoy an additional single-seater experience with laps of the super-fast South circuit in a Formula 4 car, as raced in the acclaimed BRDC F4 Championship. This is a real must-attend event for the would-be racing driver!

Every guest will get behind the wheel all of these cars, with the freedom and encouragement to drive as hard and fast as possible. Trophies will be awarded at the end of the day to the fastest drivers: 

Registration will open at 8:00am, with driving sessions commencing at 9:00am. The event will finish at approximately 4pm.

Limited spaces are available for this special format event at £1,150+VAT per person or £11,000+VAT for a team of 10. This includes all driving activities plus fabulous all-day catering including breakfast, a two-course lunch and afternoon tea. Vehicle damage cover is also included. 

For further information or to book, call our sales team on 01403 733999 or email sales@palmersport.com.

Extended Driving event - the important small print:

1. Full all-day catering and full vehicle damage cover is included for all drivers, £1,150 + VAT = total price £1,380 per person including VAT.
2. All participants must be aged 21 or over, have held a full licence for at least one year and have reasonable driving experience. Please contact us directly if you do not meet these requirements as we may be able to arrange approval for you.
3. All bookings subject to full payment in advance and a signed booking agreement.
4. These terms and rates do not extend to any other events or offers.

Full date availability

Date Availability

Our Shared event days are designed for private individuals and smaller groups, where teams share a hospitality centre for breakfast, lunch, tea and prize giving.

Here is a selection of our current available events. Our diary does fill up fast so it is important to reserve and book spaces quickly once you have chosen to host an event with us.

Please call us to check full availability: +44(0)1403 733 999. Minimum/maximum numbers and waiting lists may apply. Alternatively email us at sales@palmersport.com to talk through available options.

Exclusive events
Please contact your Account Manager for options, details, prices and dates.

All our programmes run in the same way and are not affected by group size; every guest gets to drive every car, with identical driving time.

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