I’ve just been black flagged after performing a full 360 spin in my e-kart while trying to negotiate a sharp left-hand bend.
It’s back to the pits for me and some ‘words of advice’ before I’m allowed back out on track and before long right in the thick of it again.
Luckily, my e-karting driving skills weren’t repeated when I jumped back into my Tesla Model Y for the drive home along the M3.
The karting experience was the last stop for the weekend on our SIXT Tesla mystery Tour - a brilliant idea by the car rental firm to celebrate Tesla joining their fleet.
The limited-edition package includes three mystery journeys – one per month – taking the driver on a scenic tour to discover a surprise UK destination, filled with picturesque routes, adventurous activities and most importantly, electric charging points along the way.
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Customers start by selecting the dates they would like to go on their adventures.
Fast forward to the day of departure, and you get a packing checklist, including anything from goggles and a beach towel to hiking boots, as well as a list of postcodes to put into the car’s GPS.
The postcodes are made up of electric charging points, activities, and the final destination – a beautiful hotel for an overnight stay while their Tesla recharges.
From hikes in the Lake District to paddle boarding in Surrey, the activities give drivers the chance to enjoy some of the country’s most stunning scenery and Instagram-worthy activities, all while their car battery is charging.
Our tour started at SIXT’s Heathrow branch inside the Sofitel Hotel.
Pick-up was quick and easy and after a quick tour of the car - well worth asking for as almost everything in a Tesla is operated on the giant console screen - we were on our way.
The SIXT team had delivered a ‘special’ package the day before so we knew what to pack.
The following morning it was like Christmas Day as I picked up my mate and we punched in our first postcode and found a clue as to what we would be doing.
Bearing in mind we were heading to Go Ape it was pretty obvious we were going to try out the high ropes course, or so we thought.
When we arrived at Itchen Country Park and checked-in we were told we were in fact going to try axe throwing!
Something that neither of us had ever attempted so this was going to be fun.
After our safety talk we entered the arena and picked up our weapon of choice. After several practice rounds we then battled it out against another group to see who would be crowned axe champion.
After several rounds I found myself tied in top place with an opposing team member and we had an ‘axe-off’ where we each had to throw TWO axes at the same time at the target.
After three rounds I walked away triumphant. As we walked back to our Tesla our thoughts turned to what our next destination would be.
As we typed in the postcode to our next destination we discovered we were heading to Forest Lodge Hotel - a boutique hotel in the New Forest and our final stop for the day.
On arrival we parked in one of the special pay-as-you-go electric charging bays and hooked up the Tesla for a boost.
We had our own charging cables but these weren’t needed as the bay had several different connections for us to use.
We found a great pub The Waterloo Arms just a stone’s throw from the hotel. The cosy boozer serves local Ringwood real ale and has a fantastic home cooked menu.
The following morning we punched in the postcode for our second activity and found ourselves heading into the centre of Southampton.
On arrival we discovered we were going to take part in an Escape Room experience at Houdini’s.
We found ourselves locked in a prison cell trying to Escape From Alcatraz. With just seconds to spare we broke out and found that we were among the 23% who had successfully escaped.
Then it was back in the Tesla to drive to our final destination on our mystery tour.
And keeping with the electric theme we found ourselves at TeamSport E Karting - a brand spanking new centre which had only opened its doors two days earlier.
The challenging track incorporates ramps, hairpin corners and straights to give you an exhilarating driving experience with speeds up to 40mph.
After two adrenalin filled races we took the chequered flag and as our time on the track came to an end so did our Tesla Tour.
The Tesla fleet is available now for subscription via SIXT+.
The SIXT+ subscription model allows for full flexibility, without long-term commitment or other contractual obligations. Customers pay a monthly fixed price and fuel costs without any additional charges, and can cancel at any time.
The ‘Tesla Tour’ package costs £800 and is available to customers subscribing to a Tesla for three or more months.
The package includes three unique ‘Tesla Tours’ – each including one night hotel stay, route plan, and three activities along the way. Customers can email SixtTeslaTour@smarts.agency
* SIXT UK has opened its newest location in Canary Wharf, London, providing both business and leisure travellers with a premium rental service in the city's financial district.
Tim Vetters, MD of SIXT UK says: “We’re excited to bring the premium SIXT offering to Canary Wharf, marking the latest addition to one of the country’s major hubs. The clean, modern look of the branch, located at Canada Square, will offer London’s high-flyers a range of new premium sedans and SUVs with low milage, including BMWs and Mercedes-Benz."
