SMMT Test Day 2024 at Millbrook Proving Ground
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has hosted its annual Test Day, once again based at the famous UTAC Millbrook Proving Grounds, with an intrepid throng of Northern Group members making the long trip down to this special event.
It’s a unique gathering of motor industry professionals, which sees more than 30 manufacturers attending with their latest vehicles for around 300 members of the automotive content creation community.
That makes the SMMT Test Day a rare chance for journalists, writers, videographers, television presenters, and influencers from across all types of media — digital, print, and broadcast — to get access to not only cars they may not routinely have the opportunity to test and to the personnel of the press offices. And of course vice versa.
UTAC Millbrook offers four different routes on the SMMT Test Day, all contained within the secure, 300-hectare site, for taking vehicles out for a test drive. The hill route is probably the most well-known of them, bringing an Alpine feel with a rollercoaster course, but — depending on what each brand permits for each car — you can also drive on the high-speed bowl and the much more compact city course.
A challenging off-road route is also available, though this is more limited in terms of what cars can be taken around it. The whole event is carefully marshalled too, with a dedicated marshalling team.
It’s not just new cars either, as some brands bring along heritage vehicles. That included Mazda’s original MX-5, with the vehicle entering its 35th anniversary this year, and some electric conversions brought along by Newspress.
Along with the driving there’s a presentation to begin the day from the SMMT, as well as some refreshments in the main “Concept” event space. However many brands also bring along their own food and drink stalls and stands too!
The main Test Day is a pretty long, but worthwhile, trek for NGMW members, but we’re expecting the regional Test Days — one in the north and one further south — to supplement it as usual later in the year.
