COTA Driving Experience

COTA Driving Experience lets visitors drive or ride as a passenger on the Circuit of The Americas Grand Prix track near Austin. Sessions use a 2025 BMW fleet with instructor accompaniment and include a safety briefing and helmets.

Programs include passenger hot laps, solo driving sessions, and private/group options; reservations and customer support are handled through COTA’s official booking channels (phone and email listed on the site).

You’ll join a safety briefing and track familiarization before taking the circuit with a professional instructor or as a passenger.

Look out for:

• The Turn 1 uphill climb, technical esses, and long back straight—key features of the COTA layout.

• Professional instructors who ride along or coach drivers during solo laps.

• Provided homologated helmets and a mandatory pre‑drive briefing.

• Program types from passenger hot laps to private driving sessions and paddock access.

Best way to experience it: Arrive early for check‑in, follow the instructor briefing closely, and book in advance through COTA to secure the specific car or session type you want.

• Drivers must meet COTA’s minimum age requirements (check the official page for current limits).

• Reservations and payments are handled by Circuit of The Americas; sessions run on a scheduled, limited‑capacity basis.

• Helmets and instructor accompaniment are provided; expect a mandatory briefing before driving.

• The experience uses a rotating BMW fleet (models and eligibility vary by age group).