There’s no doubt that Britain is car mad, our heritage proves that. Top Gear was a true testament to how much we love the internal combustion engine and anything that it’s strapped to. Throughout Britain, Clarkson and the team found the best driving roads to take a car to its limits in the most picturesque way possible. However, sometimes our little B-roads just didn’t cut it and they were destined for warmer and more exotic climates.

Stelvio Pass

Like us Brits, the Italians have a thing for automobiles. It turns out that they also know a thing or two about how to make the perfect driving road; this could well be down to geography more than anything in retrospect. The Stelvio Pass in the Alps, is slightly too clustered with tourists in hire cars and cumbersome coaches in the mid-day, but if you can rise from your bed in the very early hours you won’t be disappointed. The fast straights and tight hairpins become empty and act more as your personal racetrack, negotiate the occasional commuter and you won’t want to leave, that is until the tourists flock in again…

Pyrenees Mountains

The Pyrenees Mountains form a natural border between Spain and France, when it comes to driving roads in this region however, the list is endless. Driving in this area really is a dream, each road leads you to something new and better than before. These particular roads whilst draped in draw dropping beauty aren’t anywhere near as busy as you’d expect thanks to limited attractions on the route and a far quicker and more efficient road running further down; that’s fine by us, less people to get in our way!

“If you manage to get a place to stay for a few nights, it can make for a perfect break, especially If you have a vehicle that can help you traverse the mountains, it really is a spectacular view.” –  Added Thomas of LRC 4×4.

Transfagarasan

Understandably, this 56-mile stretch of road was dubbed the best driving road in Europe. Located in the Transylvanian Mountain range of Romania, the area is home to the castle where Vlad the Impaler resided; the man who supposedly inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. Jeremy Clarkson described the highway as ‘the combination of the best turns from the best racing circuits in the world combined into one long highway, the hairpin turns, s-curves and steep descents will challenge even the best car and driver.’