BA - The Club - Sir Chris Hoy: Five unlikely epic drives

A701 from Moffat to Penicuik, Scotland

This is the road off the M74 up towards Edinburgh. I’ve done this route hundreds of times over the years on my way home – it’s one of the best roads I’ve ever driven and a beautiful journey. It’s always a lot quieter than the nearby A702, a wider and straighter road that all the trucks and lorries follow if they’re heading to Edinburgh. The combination of stunning scenery and the challenging twists and turns really sharpen your focus after hours of monotony on the M6 and M74.

Car of choice: My dream car, a Singer 911
Song: No Way Back, Foo Fighters

Photo: Alamy

MA-2141 from Sa Calobra to MA-10, Mallorca

This road is a go-to for cyclists. It’s also a dead end, because the road finishes down by the sea. This means at first you get the fun bit, freewheeling down to the bottom enjoying the spectacular views, before turning around and heading back up the gruelling 10km climb. I’ve driven it once, but would love to go back and drive it in a small, light, fun car. I’d get there early before all the traffic and tourist buses and fully enjoy the amazing views.

Car of choice: Caterham 620
Song: No stereo in a Caterham, but if there were – Voodoo Child, Jimi Hendrix

Photo: Getty Images

Rome to Brescia leg of Mille Miglia, Italy

The modern Mille Miglia is an annual celebration of the iconic 1,000-mile endurance race that took place in Italy between 1927 and 1957, and nowhere else in the world will you see so many beautiful old race cars. Le Mans 24 Hour winner Andy Wallace and I did it in a 1950’s Jaguar in 2013, and it was the most memorable three days of driving – the Rome to Brescia section is breathtaking. The authenticity of doing it in a classic car is special; you can easily imagine what it was like when Stirling Moss won in 1955.

Car of choice: 1950s Jaguar XK120
Song: Again no stereo, but if it had one – Chico’s Groove, Chemical Brothers

Photo: Alamy

Glacier driving in Iceland

I’m working on putting together a trip to Antarctica next year to attempt to break the world record for cycling to the South Pole, so we recently did a recce with a snowbike and car in Iceland. I drove a Toyota Hilux that had been converted, with massive 40-inch tyres to handle driving in the most extreme conditions on Earth. We drove in a white-out, which was so much fun. You can’t tell whether you’re moving or not, you just follow the GPS, which is quite disorientating. It was my first time in Iceland and it was an amazing experience.

Car of choice: Toyota Hilux, converted by Arctic Trucks
Song: Ageispolis, Aphex Twin

Photo: Getty Images

D338 Mulsanne straight, France

On the face of it, this is a long, straight, not very interesting road. For 51 weeks of the year anyone can drive it, but one week in June it closes to the public and becomes part of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours circuit. Having watched the race so many times, finally getting the chance to compete in it in 2016 was a lifetime ambition come true. Going down that Mulsanne straight at nearly 200mph in a Ligier LMP2 race car was a real bucket-list moment. Fans driving the road can soak up the history of the world’s greatest endurance race.

Car of choice: Ligier JS P2
Song: You wouldn’t hear anything over that engine!

Photo: Getty Images