A new independent study commissioned by Castrol has explored what makes driving genuinely thrilling, with the research suggesting that control, concentration and immersion matter more than outright speed.
The Castrol EDGE ‘Thrill of Driving’ Study examined the neurophysiological responses of drivers across a range of controlled driving experiences, using brain, eye, heart and skin monitoring equipment to measure how participants reacted physically, cognitively and emotionally.
Conducted at a dedicated UK track facility, the research was supported by neuroscience company Brainbox, which analysed data gathered as participants drove – or were driven – in five different scenarios.
Driving thrill comes from ‘controlled immersion’
According to the study, the thrill of driving is created by the convergence of three key elements: visceral stimulation, intellectual engagement and emotional response.
When those elements reach an elevated but manageable level, drivers can experience what the researchers describe as ‘controlled immersion’. If the level becomes too intense, however, the experience can shift from excitement towards fear, with changes becoming visible in heart rate, eye movement and brain activity.
Importantly, the research suggests speed is only one contributor to driving excitement rather than its primary cause. Participants were able to achieve the required markers for thrill during karting on a tight, technical circuit despite relatively modest speeds.
The study also identified a potential ‘flow state’, where drivers are highly focused, engaged and feel in control of the vehicle within a managed environment.
Dan Phillips, Co-founder and Director at Brainbox Ltd, said: “No single measurement defines thrill, rather it is where they are heightened and converge: the individual is experiencing a state of elevated neurophysiological arousal, they perceive that they are fully in control of the vehicle, and they are immersed in the experience both cognitively and emotionally.”
He added: “Thrill isn’t about speed, it’s about focus. The data shows real thrill as the moment a driver locks in completely, and it can be seen across the brain, heart and eyes.”
McLaren Artura GT4 produces strongest ‘flow’ response
Testing took place under controlled conditions at the PalmerSport facility in Bedfordshire and covered five different experiences.
Participants tackled a slow-speed off-road course in a Land Rover Defender, drove single-seat karts, took the wheel of a McLaren Artura GT4 and drove an open JPLM race car. They were also taken for a high-performance passenger ride in the JPLM with a professional driver at the controls.
Of those experiences, driving the McLaren Artura GT4 produced the strongest overall thrill response.
Researchers recorded the highest levels of brain and body arousal alongside strong cognitive immersion and physical control. Brain activity associated with deep concentration was at its highest, while eye movements indicated intense focus.
Drivers averaged 70 ‘apex-lock’ fixations per minute while cornering and blinked only 2.5 times per minute, compared with a typical resting blink rate of between 15 and 20 times per minute.
EEG monitoring also showed increased frontal-midline theta brain activity associated with focused cognitive engagement. This positive pattern was particularly evident when participants drove the McLaren and single-seat karts.
Control separates excitement from fear
One of the clearest findings concerned the difference between being in control and being a passenger.
When participants were driven at speed in the JPLM race car, researchers recorded increased beta brain activity associated with stress and anxiety, accompanied by reduced focus-related theta and calming alpha activity.
Eye movements also became considerably more reactive. While participants driving the McLaren recorded 2.5 blinks and 70 fixations per minute, the passenger experience resulted in 40 blinks and 190 separate eye fixations during cornering.
Despite being exposed to similar high-speed circuit conditions, the passenger experience ranked lowest for thrill among the different tests. Researchers interpreted the heightened physiological response as anxiety rather than positive driving excitement.
Heart rate alone does not tell the story
The McLaren test also generated the biggest increase in average heart rate, adding 43.8 beats per minute compared with an additional 16 beats per minute during the off-road test.
However, the researchers found that an increased heart rate alone could not distinguish excitement from fear.
Instead, heart rate variability, brain activity and other measurements had to be considered together to understand whether heightened physiological arousal represented an enjoyable experience or a negative response.
The findings therefore suggest that intensity and enjoyment are not necessarily the same thing.
Speed isn’t essential for driving enjoyment
Perhaps the most interesting conclusion is that high speed is not required to produce the thrill associated with driving.
Although participants recorded their highest thrill response behind the wheel of the McLaren race car, karting also generated strong positive responses despite considerably lower speeds.
Even the off-road Land Rover Defender test, where speeds averaged just 5mph, ranked above the high-speed passenger experience.
The findings suggest that being actively involved, concentrating on the task and feeling in control can have a greater influence on driving enjoyment than simply travelling quickly.
Why Castrol commissioned the research
Castrol says it commissioned the study as part of its ‘data engineered’ approach to product development and to provide greater insight into the relationship between drivers, vehicles and performance.
Vincent Panel, Head of Product & Communications for Europe at Castrol, said: “We’re passionate about motorsport and driving, and we commissioned this study to develop unique insights into what the driver feels when behind the wheel: the thrill, the control, the connection.
“Crucially, we identified that you don’t need a supercar to experience driving thrill; you can experience almost the same sense of immersive control without high speeds, from a visit to a local karting track or a drive along one of your favourite roads. This study examines how that sense of thrill can be found in every driver.”
Castrol has worked with vehicle manufacturers and motorsport teams for decades, using technical data and experience to support development of products including its flagship Castrol EDGE engine oil.
All of the driving activities used for the study were carried out on closed tracks and dedicated facilities under professional supervision. Castrol stresses that the findings should not be interpreted as encouraging high-speed or performance driving on public roads.
- You can visit the Castrol website here: http://www.castrol.com/
