We often buy things or visit places without really asking ourselves why. A new iPhone? Everyone has one, so why not? A trendy vacation spot? People are talking about it, so we spend hundreds of euros just to end up underwhelmed.
I want to share a different kind of experience, and in a way, my response to the mixed online reviews about Race Planet at the legendary Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands.
Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of driving a Porsche. As the years have passed, I've grown more practical; I'm still not sure I'll ever actually buy a 911, even if the Targa variant looks gorgeous.
Still, I really wanted to experience driving one on a proper racetrack. When my wife found the packages offered by Race Planet, I looked through the reviews and felt a bit skeptical. People complained about all sorts of details. But what I actually experienced on track was something wonderful, and hard to put into words.
I had to be at the track early, 8:00 AM sharp. I checked in, grabbed a coffee, and got assigned to my group. During the morning briefing, an older gentleman introduced the circuit and walked us through what we would be doing. In passing, he mentioned a severe crash he had survived years ago at Silverstone. That immediately caught my attention; clearly, this wasn't just a generic event host.
I only realized later that he was Michael Bleekemolen, the founder of Race Planet and a former Formula 1 driver who had kept racing even after serious injuries. I only had a brief moment to chat with him, but having someone with that racing history kick off the day set the tone.
From there, the day kicked off. Each group followed its own rotation of activities. The standard lineup covers go-karting, slalom, drag racing, off-road driving, an ice/skid simulator, single-seater Formula cars, and virtual F1 sim rigs. On top of that, you can add track sessions in supercars like BMWs, Porsches, Lamborghinis, Mercedes, and Ferraris.
The schedule strikes a great balance between intense driving and downtime. For go-karting, we ran in smaller heats of 6 to 7 people, rotating through 2 to 3 sessions with enough time to rest and reset in between.
It isn't cutthroat racing. A few events let you compete against your group for medals (spoiler: I didn’t win any), but the real highlight is pulling onto the main circuit.
Driving out onto the track is a surreal feeling. You aren't flying at breakneck race speeds (the fastest I pushed the Porsche was around 160 km/h), yet it feels completely different from doing 160 on the Autobahn. You’re on the exact tarmac that hosts the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix. And you are the one driving.
Since you drive in a convoy, the lead instructor controls the pace based on the group. Don't go in expecting to channel your inner Max Verstappen and shatter lap records; if you want that, you need a private track rental and a race coach. Race Planet is about accessible entertainment: a safe, structured way to experience a historic circuit in real sports cars.
You get 2 to 4 laps per car. That's admittedly short (barely enough time to learn the braking points and get a proper feel for the car), but the adrenaline rush is very real.
In total, I spent eight hours at Circuit Zandvoort. Between waking up at 5:00 AM to beat traffic and riding the adrenaline, I was awake for nearly 24 hours. Yet by the end, instead of crashing from exhaustion, I felt energized and genuinely grateful for the experience.
I didn't walk away with medals or discover a second career as a racing driver, but I loved every minute of it. Leaving at the end of the day felt bittersweet. I’ll definitely be back. Maybe next time, in my own Porsche.
