It suits a couple travelling light, and a driver who wants a supercar for a whole weekend rather than a few laps of a circuit. Within the Masons premium car hire line-up the R8 is the only V10, and its engine sits in the middle, right behind the two seats. Our car is red, with rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed S tronic gearbox.

What the R8 is good for

The first typical occasion is a milestone birthday or an anniversary. The person celebrating gets the R8 for the day, and in the morning it is waiting outside their home or the restaurant where the party will be. They head out of town before lunch with a partner or a friend, return for the celebration in the afternoon, and the car spends the night in a garage. Just decide in advance who will drive and say so when you book.

The second scenario is a weekend away for two. Two people, two soft bags and a hotel in the mountains or in a small castle town two to three hours from Prague. You leave on Friday afternoon, explore the local roads on Saturday without rushing, and head back on Sunday. The R8 covers that; a week-long holiday with suitcases is another matter.

The third reason is the engine itself. If you want to hear an unturbocharged V10 at close quarters, plan a route through the forests and set off early, while the roads are empty. This works best from May to September, when the tarmac is dry and the days are long.

In practice: seats, luggage and drive

The R8 has two seats, and its luggage space is small and sits at the front, under the bonnet. It takes two smaller soft bags, or a backpack and a weekend bag; a hard-shell suitcase on wheels will not go in. The sports seats have strong side bolsters and you sit low, so getting in and out takes a little practice, especially in a suit or a dress. Rear-wheel drive means a gentle right foot on wet or cold roads; the R8 does not belong on snow.

The low body needs care at garage entrances, speed bumps and high kerbs. Take underground car park ramps slowly and at an angle; the rear camera and parking sensors help when reversing into a space. Prague's blue zones allow limited paid visitor parking; check the sign and time limit and pay online. For longer stays, choose a suitable garage or P+R car park. The engine is a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 with 570 hp. It runs on petrol, and on a longer trip you will be stopping for fuel more often than in an everyday car. Your phone connects via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.

Where to take the R8 from Prague

The R8 is well suited to a run down to Šumava, the Bohemian Forest. From Prague take the D5 motorway to Plzeň, then continue via Klatovy and Nýrsko to Železná Ruda, about 2 hours in total. In Klatovy, stop for a coffee on the main square below the Black Tower (Černá věž). After Nýrsko the road climbs into the forest, the bends come thick and fast, and on a weekday or early in the morning you will meet few other cars. Železná Ruda and the surrounding area have plenty of hotels and guesthouses for the night, and from Špičák a footpath leads to Černé jezero, the Black Lake, where you can stretch your legs after the drive. The route is best from late spring to early autumn; in winter the area is under snow.

R8 or Porsche 911 Carrera?

Both cars are rear-wheel drive and both are weekend hires, but for different kinds of weekend. Take the R8 when the experience is the goal: a birthday, a gift, a day on country roads and a V10 behind your back. The Porsche 911 Carrera is more practical for travelling: besides a 132-litre front boot it has two small rear seats for bags, or for children on a shorter trip. If you are planning two or three days in another city, want to drive a 911 for the first time or are bringing more luggage, the Porsche will suit you better. For one standout weekend for two, choose the R8.