AMG Driving Academy: Amazing
In an effort to solidify their image as responsible manufacturers, many high performance automobile car makers are now offering driving courses to new owners of their creations or to anyone who quite simply wants to have some fun in a safe way. In fact, image aside, this type of course is recommended to all, since no one can claim to possess the skills of a race car driver without taking a course. It’s one thing to be a good driver, but you have to learn technique.
Like Porsche, Audi, BMW, Bridgestone and several others, Mercedes-Benz has been operating its own driving academy with AMG models (since 2007). Our colleague Marc Lachapelle took this course’s Canadian version http://www.guideautoweb.com/articles/4518/) last May, but for diehards (rich diehards, that is), Mercedes-Benz has a European program that takes place on some of the world’s foremost circuits. At almost the same time as Marc and other automobile journalists had gathered at the Mont-Tremblant Circuit to take part in the Canadian session, several others had the chance to drive AMG models on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
First of all, I should mention that the mission of AMG (Aufrecht Melcher Grossaspach), a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz located in Affalterbach, Germany, is to transform the brand’s noble road vehicles into cars that can go toe-to-toe with even the most seasoned sports cars. And what better way to learn if these rides can really hold their own on a race track than to unleash them on one!
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps: Intimidating
Not just any race tracks, mind you. There are stops at Hockenheim, the Nurburgring, Zandvoort, Imola and, of course, Spa-Francorchamps, which is reputed among F1 drivers as one of the most intimidating on the program. On television, the differences in ground level aren’t very noticeable: you have to be there to see them for yourself. The Eau Rouge corner combined with the steep Raidillon climb immediately after is impressive at 160 km/hr, but F1 cars do this at almost 300 km/hr!
There are several types of courses to meet the needs of as large a public as possible and for many very different driving levels. First of all, there’s the “Emotion Tours” that help you familiarize yourself with the Mercedes-AMG products on public roads. Next, there’s the “Basic Training” on a race track, followed by the “Advanced”, “Pro” and “Masters” courses. There’s even a course on winter driving!
While in Spa-Francorchamps, we took the two-day “Pro” course. It begins with a warm-up: braking, slalom, and obstacle avoidance. Next, we explore the track section by section. There are four teams of five or six cars on the track at the same time but the program is so well-coordinated that you almost never notice the other groups even though they are sharing the very same track. Our group was led by the master hand Thomas Jägger, currently first in the Porsche Cup standings. (In the more advanced levels, the AMG Academy calls on experienced experts such as Jägger or even Bernd Schneider, a former F1 pilot.) Leading the group, Jägger shows us the correct line when turning (always easier to find comfortably seated in your living room than in a car...) and how to brake and take the turn in the same spot. Moreover, you have to avoid skidding, which, while spectacular, costs you precious hundredths of seconds in a race.
Speed: it’s all relative...
The pace picks up immediately at the start of the second day, and speeds are quite high. So high, in fact, that near the end of the day, I had reached my limit. I knew that the car that I was driving could take the curves even faster, but my brain wouldn’t allow it. Yes, I know, it’s psychological... Call me patriotic, but it must be said that our group, made up of Canadians, was the fastest on the track. And yet, at the end of the course, accustomed as he is to much more powerful cars, Jägger told me that the speeds that we reached weren’t really that fast...
Finally, to finish the course on a positive note, each driver (“driver in training” is more like it) got the chance to take a lap around the track in a Mercedes-AMG racing prototype driven by Susie Stoddart, who competes in the very challenging DTM racing series. It isn’t comfortable whatsoever but the speed at which the pretty little blond enters into turns is very impressive. Hitting the turns, which we’d been working on for two days, is considerably different because of the much faster speeds.
Over these two days, we had the privilege of driving the C 63 AMG, the SLK 55 AMG, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series and the SL 63 AMG. Of the four, the C 63 turns out to be the most fun to push to the limit, while the SL 63 is at a slight disadvantage due to its weight and its imposing size, but that doesn’t make it any less of a beast, as distinguished as it is powerful. Unfortunately, I couldn’t drive the CLK Black Series but the feedback I got from those who did was very positive. Too bad the Black Series isn’t available in Canada. According to Jägger, a massive S 63 AMG, driven by an experienced driver, could very well do up to several laps without any problems. Over this whole period, we couldn’t deactivate the various traction and stability control systems, but AMG modified these systems to allow the car a little more slack before intervening. And when they intervene, they do so gently, as if to say “Easy, buddy, you’re going to lose control…”
The Canadian program
The Canadian course, run by Danny Kok, who has more than a quarter-century of experience in automobile racing, is rather focussed on the individual and features smaller groups. And, as is the case in Europe, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy moves from track to track in the summer and fall and different levels are offered to students. In Canada, one level goes for $395. At the other end of the spectrum, a more complete course costs $1595. The prices for the courses offered in Europe are more expensive, and you’ll have to factor in the cost of accommodation as well, although that isn’t an issue for some. In closing, if you want to take these courses in French, it will have to be in Québec, as in Europe they’re given only in English or German. Oh yeah, and you don’t necessarily have to own a Mercedes-Benz.
For further information on the European program, visit: http://www.mercedes-benz-amg.com/driving-academy and for the Canadian program: http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?Language=French&id=7331.
Have fun!
