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World’s most stylish supercars take a luxury road trip
Do you fancy driving a Lamborghini down a picturesque country road in France, revving your car's powerful engine while the stunning scenery whizzes past you? And how about an al-fresco Michelin-star lunch, followed by a helicopter ride to Monaco and partying with Formula One stars after that?
If you have $58,000 to spare, The Run to Monaco can organize this for you. The annual event sees a fleet of supercars drive from England to the south of France, stopping by luxury hotels and restaurants along the way, and ending in Monaco just in time for the Grand Prix.
If you are now reaching for a credit card to book your place, you are probably exactly the type of international jet-setter whom The Run Into Monaco organisers try to attract: "Our clientele are mainly successful entrepreneurs. They own a supercar but don't have a chance to drive it as much as they would like to," says Chris Welch, who alongside his partner Christo Thompson founded the rally in 2012.
Courtesy The Run Into Ltd
Welch and Thompson worked in Formula One and travel industries before they decided that they could top the entertainment they saw on offer at racing events: "We realized that hospitality around Formula One is not necessarily what high net-worth individuals were used to," says Welch. "We looked at what it was that these people liked, and there wasn't a supercar rally that included staying in fantastic hotels and putting on a gastronomic extravaganza," he explains.
Courtesy The Run Into Ltd
The group gathers at the 12th century Leeds Castle in southeast England where, after a medieval banquet, they hop on a private Eurostar train to France and give their cars a spin at Rouen Airport.
Courtesy The Run Into Ltd
The journey continues across France's heartland, making stops in the Sancerre wine region and the Alps. At this price point, drivers don't expect to fumble with maps -- each car is equipped with a sat-nav with a programmed route, and luggage is taken in advance.
Courtesy The Run Into Ltd
Evenings are reserved for masked balls and Eastern-themed bashes. Rally participants come from all over the world, and the event has also seen F1 veterans like Damon Hill among the drivers in the past.
Courtesy Run To Global Ltd.
Predictably, a roaring supercar convoy doesn't go unnoticed in sleepy French villages: "There is quite a lot of excitement. Pupils bat on school windows and people take pictures, but it's all very jovial and fun" says Welch.
Courtesy The Run Into Ltd
And because driving into Monaco just won't do, the trip culminates with a helicopter ride to the principality just time for the Grand Prix and dinner with F1 drivers.
Courtesy Run To Global Ltd
The trip takes around nine months to plan, and Welch sees his role on the road as that of a host: "The reason why I set the event up was because it presented an opportunity to meet some great people," he adds.
Courtesy The Run Into Ltd
For his partner Christo Thompson, it's all about the sense of adventure: "The best part of the experience is exploring off the beaten track," he says.
This November, Welch and Thompson will launch The Run To Austin, starting in Las Vegas and finishing at the Grand Prix of Americas in the Texas capital.