How to make a big cat growl on Formula One track

We take a Jaguar F-Type driving experience at Yas Marina Circuit.

Our writer gets some racing instructions. Ravindranath K / The National

Now, while the forward-thinking, environmentally friendly exploits of Formula E detailed here are laudable, if you fancy some full-fat racing without having to become a professional driver, we have just the thing.

The Jaguar F-Type driving experience is the latest addition to the wide-ranging programme of high-octane on-track adventures available for public booking at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. It adds to existing experiences of piloting track monsters such as the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, Mercedes-AMG GT S and a single-seater Formula 3000 car.

But while the GT4 and GT S wield in excess of 500hp each and the F3000 racer is on another level entirely, the F-Type S Coupé’s supercharged, 380hp, 3.0L V6 is far more manageable for the average driver – and a cheaper deal.

There’s still plenty to enjoy, however, in getting its 19-inch tyres squealing and protesting around an abridged loop of the circuit that Lewis Hamilton and co will dash around next month during the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

After a safety briefing in the circuit’s Yas Central building, covering everything from racing lines to what to do in the event of an accident, I’m handed a fireproof balaclava and racing helmet. I’m led to the pit lane by Spanish instructor Kepa Carmona Egidazu, a regional-level rally driver back in the Basque Country. I fire up the Jag, which is identical to the road-going F-Type save for a slathering of decals over its jet-black paintwork, and we crawl to the end of the pit lane to await a green light from a track marshal.

The most pertinent rules arefairly simple: no overtaking in corners, try not to exceed 4,000rpm on the first lap so as not to overexert the engine and listen to your instructor. Red cones mark your braking point on each corner; yellow signify where to turn in (I’m told to get as close to these as possible); green show the apex; then step on the right-hand pedal on the exit and feel the roar of that supercharged engine propelling you forward.

Egidazu’s main criticism of my driving is his (not unreasonable) repeated insistence for me to brake harder as we hurtle towards corners at the end of the two main straights. At these junctures, I’m a little too fixated on the imminent bends to glance down at the speedometer, but it’s safe to say the 200kph mark is comfortably being breached.

Sat low in the driving seat, one right-hander in particular, immediately after the crest of a hill just after the entrance to the pit lane, necessitates a slightly slower approach on my opening lap, until I'm sure exactly which way I'm about to steer. There's a second driver on-track during my session, and after learning that she's German, I'm envisaging getting left in a cloud of dust by somebody on par with Top Gear's fearless fräulein Sabine Schmitz. My pride is left in tact minutes later after we lap her, but it's rather dented a short while later.

There are two types of Jag experiences: one behind the wheel with an instructor in the passenger seat; the other with roles reversed. So I’m duty-bound to also sample the latter. After a cool-down-lap and a quick pit stop, for the second half of the 20-minute tear-up, we swap seats. It soon becomes clear that there’s a lot more grip to be explored on the big cat’s ragged edge than I dared to test out, especially when Egidazu switches off the traction control, with a grin, and proclaims: “This is so much fun.” He’s not incorrect.

• The Jaguar F-Type driving experience costs Dh1,300; the Jaguar F-Type passenger experience costs Dh500. For more information, call 800 927 or visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com.

This review was done at the invitation of Yas Marina Circuit.