Driving experiences in Adelaide: The Bend and Mallala

Adelaide has two tracks for driving experiences: The Bend at Tailem Bend, south east of the city, and Mallala to the north, where Fastrack runs its V8 program. Both offer V8 drives and passenger hot laps, but who can drive differs a lot. Prices and rules were checked on the operators' own sites on 30 October 2026.

DrivingExperiences.com.au is a general information site operated by Dominet BV. We don't sell experiences or vouchers, take bookings or rank operators, and we don't receive payments from operators. Prices, age and licence rules, dates and voucher terms are set by each operator and change often, so check the operator's own page before you buy or book. Facts were checked on 30 October 2026. Read our general information notice. Adelaide prices below are as listed on each operator's site on that date.

Two tracks near Adelaide

The Bend Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend lists V8 driving experiences and hot laps. Fastrack Experiences runs V8 drives and hot laps at Mallala Motorsport Park. For rally driving, Rally School Australia lists Truro in the Barossa as its Adelaide location.

Drive laps mean you drive with an instructor or coach beside you. Hot laps mean you're the passenger while a professional driver drives. Our V8 driving experience guide explains the format, and our hot laps guide explains passenger rides.

Driving at The Bend

The Bend lists a V8 Holden or V8 Mustang drive over five laps of its 3.41km West Circuit. The cars are manual. The starting price was $349 per person, as listed on The Bend's site on 30 October 2026.

The minimum driving age is 21. The listed weight limit is 100kg and the height limit is 185cm. You need full length clothing and enclosed shoes, and the operator asks you to arrive 15 minutes early.

The Bend puts the on-track time at about five minutes. That's the driving itself, not the whole visit, so allow longer for sign-on and briefing.

These details come from The Bend's V8 drive page and experience list.

Hot laps at The Bend

The Bend's hot laps need no licence, and the range of cars is wider than for drives.

Prices below are in Australian dollars per person, as listed on The Bend's site on 30 October 2026.

The same experience list also includes the Clubmans Motorkhana Experience, from $129 per person as listed on The Bend's site on 30 October 2026. The age, height and weight limits quoted above are for the V8 Holden drive, so check the page for any passenger ride you're considering.

Fastrack at Mallala

Fastrack lists Mallala as a 2.601km circuit. Every driving package includes a Motorsport Australia accredited coach in the passenger seat for every lap, with guidance through a headset intercom. You don't need prior track experience.

Prices below are in Australian dollars per person, as listed on Fastrack's site on 30 October 2026, on its Mallala page.

Fastrack says to allow about three hours for a driving visit, including sign-on, briefing, suiting up and laps. Rides alone take about 1.5 hours. Automatic V8 race cars are available at Mallala, but Mustangs are manual only.

How the two compare on the rules

The Bend sets a minimum driving age of 21. Fastrack's driving rule is based on holding a provisional or full car licence, with valid international licences accepted. Fastrack states no age limit for drives or rides, although height limits apply.

The Bend's V8 drive limits are 100kg and 185cm. Fastrack's FAQ lists drivers at 152cm to 194cm and under 130kg, and hot lap passengers at 135cm to 194cm and under 130kg. Its experiences page FAQ gives 135cm to 194cm for both. If the driver is between 135cm and 152cm, ask Fastrack before you buy.

For gifts, The Bend lists experience vouchers with one-year or three-year validity options. Fastrack vouchers last three years from issue, while its gift cards last three years from purchase. Check the specific voucher's expiry and terms. Our gift voucher guide explains what to check when buying for someone else.

Rally near Adelaide

Rally School Australia's locations page lists Truro in the Barossa for Adelaide. We didn't check Truro prices, so use Rally School's own page for packages and dates.

The Bend separately lists its rally car passenger experience on the off-road rally track.

Before you buy or book

• Licence and age: Check the chosen package's rules, especially if the driver has P plates or an international licence.
• Height and weight: Confirm the participant fits the limits. Ask Fastrack about its differing published driving height minimums.
• Dates and time: Check available sessions and arrival instructions. Track time and total visit time are different.
• Rebooking: Fastrack lists free changes more than 14 days out, a $30 fee at 8 to 14 days and a $50 fee less than 7 days out, as listed on Fastrack's site on 30 October 2026. A no-show forfeits the booking.
• Refunds and expiry: Fastrack bookings and vouchers are non-refundable. Check The Bend's package terms and the validity option on any voucher.
• Participation: Fastrack requires 0.00% blood alcohol and excludes pregnant participants.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive at The Bend on P plates?

The Bend's V8 drive page sets a minimum age of 21 but didn't spell out a licence type when we checked, so ask The Bend before you buy.

Can I drive at Mallala without track experience?

Yes. Fastrack says no prior track experience is needed. A coach sits beside you for every driving lap. You still need an eligible licence and must meet the size limits.

Do The Bend's hot laps require a licence?

The Bend lists hot laps with no licence required. Check the selected passenger package for its other participation rules.

Can I choose an automatic at Mallala?

Fastrack lists automatic V8 race cars at Mallala. Its Mustangs are manual only, so check the car included in the package.

How long do the gift vouchers last?

The Bend lists one-year and three-year experience voucher options. Fastrack vouchers are valid for three years from issue. Its gift cards are valid for three years from purchase, under its terms and conditions.