Driver Training, Car Control / Handling Course, Sat 5 Sep

[Sundeep]

Anyone interested in the Driver Development Programme course up at Prodrive facility in Warwick http://www.driverdp.com/ a few of us went along with this 911uk run event back in 2007. It works out as half the cost as the Full Porsche Experience Day at Silverstone and this is on a Saturday... Course details are

Driver Development Programme (DDP) Car Control / Handling Course, Warwick:

http://www.driverdp.com/

A unique course, for all drivers with an interest in knowing their cars' handling characteristics better, and heightening their driver skill level. In your own car, receive coaching on a 2 driver to 1 instructor ratio.

Course location : Prodrive Proving Ground, Warwickshire, Central England

For the road driver:
Under guidance from instructors, carefully selected for you, this course will give you the skills to drive safer. Using the various driving areas, including skid control, you will further develop correct driving techniques to feel real control over your car and the environment you drive in.
You will immediately feel the benefits in your day to day driving.

For the trackday or race driver:
The course provides you with the rare opportunity to drive, all at one venue, the low traction wet surfaces, the high speed track and handling track, with guidance from well chosen instructors, with circuit race history, enabling you to really examine elements of car handling, and driving technique, not possible within the rigid rules and controls of a trackday or test day.

Course content
Consists of 4 driving sessions, in any order on the day, as detailed below:

Tower Circuit:
1.5 mile high performance circuit. Perfect track for higher speed balance awareness and developing correct use of vision, to attain accurate positioning, steering input and well judged use of the brakes and throttle.

Adverse Handling Circuit.
The adverse handling circuit is a tight and twisty tarmac track. In many ways it simulates urban driving, with low speed corners and constant changes of direction. Here you will develop further your use of vision and matching road speed with the correct gear, so the car is constantly responsive. Also the necessity to keep the car balanced at all times. This track shows up the handling characteristics of your car and will really highlight incorrect driving techniques. Understeer and oversteer can be all too common here! The challenge is smooth to be quick!

Multi Surface Wet Grip Skid Control and Skid Circle.
Here you will explore and learn to understand the different kinds of skid, what causes them, how to avoid them in road situations, and how to induce and play with them here in this safe environment! Learning this way is fun!

The surfaces consist of:
Surface 1: A long 180 metres of wetted basalt tiles. Used by vehicle manufacturers to test braking, traction and stability systems, its ability to simulate ice and snow in all weather conditions makes it the perfect area to teach skid control (guaranteed to make you laugh!) and the benefits of ABS and DSC.

Surface 2: The Skid Circle is perfect to simulate driving on a slippery roundabout, giving the driver a real feel of understeer and oversteer. The low grip surface enables real time driving simulation on black ice, demonstrating, in a safe environment, the potential hazards of road driving in such slippery conditions. This will really highlight the difference between traction control on (if you have this system) and traction control off, giving increased confidence when driving on wet and greasy roads.

The areas are constantly wetted, creating very low traction surfaces; therefore there is no wear on tyres or car systems.

Mixed Practice during the afternoon. A practice of all three disciplines, focusing on each individual's preferences. Please discuss with your instructor what you would like to practise more of after the morning sessions.

Itinerary
9.00 Arrival, sign in and breakfast.
9.30 Welcome presentation/briefing
10.00-10.45 Driving session 1
10.45-11.30 Driving session 2
11.30-11.50 Short break
11.50-12.40 Driving session 3
12.40-13.45 Re-fuel and Lunch
13.45-16.00 Driving session 4
16.00 Debrief and departure

Noise restrictions
Noise limit at site is 98dB static, tested at one metre away at 2/3 rpm. All road going vehicles are suitable.

Cost, prices have gone up since 2007 since the event was run on a weekday and the normal cost now is £355 on a weekday.

On a weekend a premium is charged as the venue is normally shut, so the quotes have been £425 to 475 depending on the number of cars.

However good news, the weekend slot has been secured for £385 for 12 cars and £360 for 15 cars which includes lunch.

Note the equivalent Half Day Porsche Driving Experience Event at Silverstone is £395 and a full day is £765.

Ref. Noise test, the event was previously attended by PCGB and 911uk in 2007 with a wide variety of 911's, therefore 911's shouldn't be an issue.

http://www.driverdp.com/

So then who's interested, post up your interest and I can add you to the list, we are aiming for 15 drivers on the day

there is a thread up on 911uk http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=45507 with a list of who's going so far

 

[spyderman]

Yes - definitely interested. I'm obviously not your region, but if there's a slot available, count me in! Its a step up from the course R10 did recently at Millbrook with CAT Driver Training as we all bundled into their car, not our own.

Wonder what the position with insurance would be - although I guess it could be described as "organised through PCGB", its not exactly a track day.

 

[grover]

Yes I am interested as well please put my name down and I will watch the fourm to see if the numbers get to the right level. I am also interested in the insurance situation as to what to do.

 

[Sundeep]

not sure you need specific insurance, there isn't much to hit out there or be hit by....

Numbers so far 9 from 911uk and 2 from PCGB, so that's 11 Porsche's on the event and only 4 spaces left

 

[Sundeep]

Payment Info

Email received from Carolyn Barker of DPP

I have secured Saturday the 5th September for a members day. Incidentally it is £30 for non driving guests to cover catering costs.

There is no on-line payment option.

You can either contact (per below) and I can send a Paypal invoice or you can phone me with their card details to book.

Carolyn Barker
Driver Development Programme
e. carolynbarker@driverdp.com
www.driverdp.com
m. 07796305973
t. 01787278833