BA - The Club - Five unlikely epic drives: Will Buxton

Animal Flower Cave to Bathsheba, Barbados

The road is crumbling and falling to pieces. The car won’t do over 40mph. But I’ve never enjoyed a drive more in my life than that which takes you from Animal Flower Cave at the northernmost point of Barbados, high through the trees and vegetation of Cherry Tree Hill Reserve (pictured), down to Bathsheba. When you arrive at the summit, there’s the most stunning vista out across the island’s east coast. On this road, in this most tranquil and relaxed of places, I’m completely at peace.

Car of choice: Mini Moke

Song of choice: Offshore, Chicane

N62/N68 Spa, Belgium; L517/L518 Graden to Spielberg, Austria; 257/L92 Nurburg, Germany

Some of Europe’s greatest and most legendary racing circuits were drawn up by enthusiasts on the winding roads of their home towns half a century ago. So the stretches of tarmac that surround the likes of Spa-Francorchamps (pictured), the Red Bull Ring and Nurburgring’s Nordschleife, and their connecting arteries, comprise – for me – some of the world’s most enjoyable drives. With all the flow of the old classics and, in some cases such as the N62 in Spa, the actual route of the original circuit, finding a blast without any race-day traffic can be absolutely magical.

Car of choice: 2018 Aston Martin Vantage V8

Song of choice: I just wasn’t made for these times, Beach Boys

Route 101, San Francisco, USA

Despite working for NBC Sports for many years and experiencing some fabulous times Stateside during my career, I’ve not travelled as extensively in the USA as I’d have liked. One of my favourite drives, however, was up the 101 in San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge (pictured), past Sausalito and Marin and up into wine country and Sears Point raceway at Sonoma. In the opposite direction it’ll take you all the way to LA. A proper USA road trip has long been on my bucket list… I just need to find the time!

Car of choice: 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350

Song of choice: Midnight in a Perfect World, DJ Shadow

B4030 Bicester to Enstone, UK

I’ve always found that the roads around where one lives can take on something of a majestic quality. Whether it’s the familiarity of the routes or the knowledge that you’re close to home, there’s just something tremendously enjoyable about driving around your neighbourhood. I’m pretty lucky that the Cotswolds in the UK, the place I call home, is filled with infectiously enjoyable drives. The one I’ve picked is part of the route I travel to take my daughter to school, special to me because it represents an all too rare bit of daddy-daughter time and treasured moments of singing and laughter.

Car of choice: Mercedes-AMG GLC

Song of choice: History, One Direction

Street Kart, Central Tokyo, Japan

Ordinarily, Tokyo is the nadir of enjoyable driving. But stay with me here, because this isn’t any normal driving experience. Beginning its life as ‘MariKart’ until a cease and desist arrived from the legal bods at Nintendo, Street Kart offers one of the most unique and unforgettable driving experiences on Earth. Zipping around Tokyo traffic at 60kph dressed as Super Mario’s friendly pet dinosaur Yoshi, at the wheel of a two-stroke go-kart, is one of the most bonkers and enjoyable drives I’ve ever had. Sign the waiver, leave your health and safety fears at the door (you don’t get a helmet), then drive the Rainbow Bridge, Shibuya Crossing and laugh like a drain.

Car of choice: Street Kart

Song of choice: Ryōsangata Kareshi, Shishamo