Tim Pollard

Motoring journalist and digital media specialist, and Bronze Executive Club Member
@timpollardcars

Driving • February 2014

Seven unlikely epic drives

Tim Pollard had a ‘eureka’ moment aged 12, when he realised he could combine his love of cars and writing in his chosen profession: motoring journalism. He has since written for Autocar, What Car?, Car magazine and is currently managing editor for Microsoft’s online service MSN Cars. He shares his pick of drives from Silverstone to Switzerland.

Do you know a better epic drive? Send us your photos and you could see them in a future issue.

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B3491, Wales

The lanes criss-crossing Snowdonia National Park are firm favourites with road testers – because of the unspoilt views, the brilliant roads and the quiet traffic out of season. It’s one of the few places in the UK where you can let a supercar stretch its legs in safety. Just watch out for suicidal sheep whose knowledge of the Green Cross Code is shaky at best.

Car of choice: Lotus Elise 111R

Photo: Alamy

Route Napoleon, France

The Route Nationale 85 traces the path trodden by Napoleon on his return from exile in Elba. Climb out of Cannes into the mountains with the Med shimmering over your shoulder, and enter a hidden playground for car enthusiasts. The N85 is one of Europe’s finest long-distance driving roads: 200 miles of rollercoaster fun. The best bits of this automotive Narnia are between Grasse and Castellane.

Car of choice: Ferrari 458 Italia

Photo: Alamy

Parque Natural de Urbasa y Andia, Spain

Every now and then a car manufacturer stumbles upon a launch location for a new vehicle that takes your breath away. Jaguar presented its new F-type sports car to the world’s media around Pamplona, northern Spain. EU-funded, smooth roads, sinuous mountain climbs and surprisingly lush landscapes were the perfect accompaniment for the raucous, darty F-type roadster.

Car of choice: Jaguar F-type V6 S

Photo: Getty Images

Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire

Land Rover’s off-road proving ground has been nestled in the grounds of Eastnor Castle near Ledbury for half a century – there are few more challenging mud-pits into which you can sling a two-tonne off-roader. Inching up inclines that you couldn’t walk down and ploughing through waist-high rivers, this slice of the Malvern Hills could double up as the set of an Indiana Jones film.

Car of choice: Range Rover Sport TDV6

Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone

Silverstone has been the home of the British Grand Prix since 1987, and from 2008 it’s also hosted Porsche’s only official training ground in the UK. Anyone with a clean driving licence can pay £275 and enjoy a half-day driving modern Porsches under expert tuition. The track, ice-slope and skidpan are great fun and educational in equal measure, whether you’re in a 911 coupé, Panamera saloon or Cayenne SUV.

Car of choice: Porsche Cayman S

Photo: Alamy

Furka Pass, Switzerland

This Alpine pass is mesmerising, a misshapen spaghetti reel of a road winding its way as high as 2,429m up in the foothills of Switzerland’s biggest peaks. James Bond drove through here in 1964’s Goldfinger, and it’s a site dripping in cinematic history. Arrive early to avoid sightseers and hordes of flat-out bikers.

Car of choice: 007 drove an Aston Martin DB5, but I’d pick the more exclusive 1960 DB4 GT Zagato

Photo: Alamy

Zig-zag hill, B3081, Shaftesbury

Acknowledged as the UK’s twistiest road, the B3081 wiggles from Tollard Royal, past Madonna’s old country estate, and hairpins its way down into Shaftesbury with more bends and corners than anywhere else in Britain, according to cartographers.

Car of choice: Ford’s bargain go-faster Fiesta ST

Photo: Alamy

Tim Pollard

Seven unlikely epic drives

B3491, Wales

Route Napoleon, France

Parque Natural de Urbasa y Andia, Spain

Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire

Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone

Furka Pass, Switzerland

Zig-zag hill, B3081, Shaftesbury

B3491, Wales

Route Napoleon, France

Parque Natural de Urbasa y Andia, Spain

Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire

Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone

Furka Pass, Switzerland

Zig-zag hill, B3081, Shaftesbury

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