A McLaren event dedicated to women driving enthusiasts, exploring the stunning Mediterranean region.
McLaren Driving inspiration is an event dedicated to women driving enthusiasts exploring the stunning Mediterranean coast from the 24th to the 28 September from Barcelona to Monte Carlo and Milan. Ladies, Start Your Engine!
The event started at McLaren Barcelona, guests arrived from different countries and met their fellow travellers during a cocktail party celebrating the speed in the Chelsea 1979 Museum of F1 and Moto GP Museum, followed by a relaxed private dinner in the McLaren Café.
BARCELONA A MONTPELLIER, 395KM
After a restful night’s sleep the preparation began for our exciting journey together. The day one of our drive for the idyllic Mediterranean coastline north towards Perpignan after departed from Barcelona via the quickest motorway route to Blanes, the Rally Costa Brava begins for real.
This beautiful two-hour route along the rugged coastline is a dream drive rounded off by an alfresco lunch overlooking the Mediterranean at the Alabriga Hotel. During the afternoon, the main roads take us further north through the stunning national parks of the Pyrenees and Narbonne passing by Girona and Beziers with refreshments stops en route.
The hotel this evening was the Plage Palace located on the outskirts of the historic city of Montpellier. Relax and unwind with a reviving beach walk before dinner. Renowned for its local produce, Montpellier is the perfect setting to enjoy fabulous fish, seafood and wines from the Languedoc – Roussillon wine region.
MONTPELLIER TO MONTE CARLO, 390KM
Leaving Montpellier, we head east towards Nimes and into the Camargue National Park. The lakes and marshland of this unique area and its resident flamingos are a wonderful contrast to the mountains and seascapes. Crossing the Rhone and skirting the boundaries of Coussouls de Crau Nature Reserve and Alpilles National Park, we make our way towards Aix-en-Provence.September is a busy harvesting month in the vineyards of Provence. For lunch we were in the heart of the action at Château La Coste. This unique, forward-thinking, organic wine estate displays curated artwork and architecture alongside the 200 hectares of vines, cypresses and olive trees.
We cannot stay away from the Mediterranean for too long. The afternoon takes us to Cannes where we picked up the beautiful coastal road that is the French Riviera. In the tyre tracks of the Monaco Grand Prix, our chequered flag drops in Monte Carlo. Our home for the night is the iconic Hotel de Paris. Recently reopened after a four-year makeover, this Belle Epoque palace located in the heart of Casino Square hosted an elegant dinner where we will be joined by Ruth Nic Aoidh, McLaren Executive Director Commercial and Legal.
MONTE CARLO TO MILAN, 395KM
From Monte Carlo we were head over the border into Italy and hug the scenic coastline towards Albenga before heading west towards the Ligurian Alps. A delightful change of scene with spectacular mountain views and we pass by quaint, historic towns typical of the Piedmont region. Our backdrop for lunch will be the rolling hills and vineyards of Monteferrato. From here we will continue north, crossing the River Po into Lombardy and onwards to Milan and our final hotel.
The centrally located Palazzo Parigi is just a short walk from the famous Teatro alla Scala. This majestic, new hotel is the perfect place for our final dinner featuring a guest speaker with an eye for design. Our Guest speaker was Joanna lewis, McLaren head of Colour and Materials Designer.
That was the first edition of a successful event that aims to bring the brand closer to the female public. We have had the pleasure of having female guests who are passionate about cars and supercars and it has been an unforgettable day full of adrenaline.
