Five unlikely epic drives: Frank Stephenson

Frank Stephenson designed both the iconic new Fiat 500 and the Mini, penned during a design career that has seen him lead studios at Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren and more. Celebrating the release of Chasing Perfect on 20 May, a film that documents Stephenson’s life and work, motoring journalist Rory Smith discovers his top five epic drives.

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The Garden Route, Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, South Africa

The Garden Route, along the tip of South Africa, is spectacular – every moment of that drive is awe-inspiring. I travelled westwards between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, driving into the sunset. You go past white-sand beaches and over mountain passes – everywhere you look there are wild flowers and trees, some thousands of years old. I drove it in a Land Rover Discovery because I wanted something that was up to the job.

Car of choice: Land Rover Discovery

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The Sea to Sky Highway, Vancouver to Whistler, Canada

I drove this a few years ago in a McLaren P1, which I designed. It’s a car that people rarely get to see, so to drive it on this road was incredible, like something out of a film. I had tears in my eyes, it was that beautiful. It’s mostly mountains as you go up and down, but it’s the denseness of the greenery, the long views and wide Canadian skies that make it feel like virtual reality. The serenity was sensational.

Car of choice: McLaren P1

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Amalfi Coast Road, Sorrento to Salerno, Italy

Probably the most romantic road anywhere – you can’t help but play Italian love songs! I drove it while working in Italy, in a red 1954 Alfa Romeo Giulietta with a beige interior. There are hotspots along the way, so you can enjoy the food and views. The route hangs off the side of the cliffs, so there are tunnels and hairpin bends; when you go through the tunnels, the amplified engine noise is amazing. This isn’t a road you want to drive fast – the Amalfi Coast is all about chilling, bathing in the sunlight and taking everything in.

Car of choice: 1954 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

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Pacific Coast Highway 1, Monterey to Morro Bay, California

This route hugs the coast along California as you head south from a town called Carmel. It’s a narrow two-lane road, so go when it’s as crowd-free as possible. I remember seeing the waves crashing on the shoreline below, and stopping to take pictures as I passed over Bixby Creek Bridge. It’s great to go at different times of the year to see how the landscape changes. I drove a McLaren 675LT – an incredible car to design and a real treat to drive on this iconic route.

Car of choice: McLaren 675LT

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Stelvio Pass, Bormio to Stilfs, northern Italy

This drive is all about the thrill – there are so many hairpins you could get drunk on the adrenaline! It has 48 in total, so you must be totally alert. There are sheer drops off the edge the whole way. I did the Stelvio Pass in a Ferrari F430, just after we launched the spider version, so I had the top down, which was incredible. The scenery is spectacular, but you do find yourself in attack mode when driving – it’s a real mood changer.

Car of choice: Ferrari F430 Spider

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This article has been tagged Adventure, Driving