When it comes to winter weather, rain, sleet and snow typically make for a miserable driving experience – unless you’re behind the wheel of an Aston. For several years now, enthusiasts have been invited to don their thermal driving gloves and dash through the snow with the British carmaker around icy tracks, with expert tutelage from professional racing drivers.
And this year, for the first time, Aston Martin broadened the unique experience to the southern hemisphere and adding a New Zealand On Ice event, which allows for a bi-annual offering. Following the event’s success, Aston Martin is now accepting “registrations of interest” for New Zealand On Ice 2017, expected to take place again in August. The snowy sequel will include the opportunity to careen the new DB11 around a purpose-built Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground, as well as other new models, such as the V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide S and Vanquish, with accommodation at Millbrook Resort in the rural idyll of Queenstown, set against the picturesque Remarkables Mountain Range.
The three-day program kicks off with welcome drinks, a fireside lunch and a briefing before actually revving around the ice driving facility on day two for an active day of racing before an informal hosted dinner. The final day is more of a wind-down, with a chance to enjoy the surrounding mountains and relax on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu with a range of activities, including golf, jet boating, horse trekking and sky diving. Pricing is yet to be released for the 2017 edition, but the recent event was sold at NZ$11,495 (US$8,000) for a single driver with non-driving guest in a double room.