RS246 Driver Development Program - Exclusive Day

[DavidT]

I'm up for it, but need to confirm insurance cover first (my insurance is up for renewal at the end of this month).

I don't think you will have any insurance regardless of who you renew with Dave. Its not an organised 'recognised' trackday so it counts as use off the public highway = no insurance.

[ChipHazzard]

I'm just trying to sort things out, but have just had a couple of heavy bills so might have to give it a miss unfortunatly

[SteveH]

Am very interested, trying to calculate holiday dates for the year

[BigMo]

done this Prodrive experience twice already. Awesome day out. Enjoy it fellas. But RS6 owners be wary, the tarmac rally stage isn't for us (summat to do with our engines being infront of the front bumper!)

[GrahamS4]

Twice? !

Can you share any more with us about the day BigMo? What goes on, how were the instructors, what was best/most impressive? Any pics?

I'm excited and can't wait, but the general take up seems to be a bit slow. We only need 8 to keep this RS246 exclusive and it'll be a real shame if we don't.

[Daz]

I've also did a Prodrive day back in Dec via John Cave @ www.drivetrain.uk.com and it is a fantastic day. I've always wanted to do some skid pan training so I made the most of that. Getting the RS4 sideways down the staight skidpan takes some doing but the instructors made it look so easy. The adverse handling circuit (tarmac rally stage) is also good fun but harder work in bigger cars.

One of the Prodrive instructors there was Jamie Wall - http://www.jamiewallracing.com

[GrahamS4]

Sideways down a a straight skidpan sounds good

I take it your RS4 is a B7? I think my traction controlless B5 S4 might be scary on this!

[BigMo]

These days are very good for the novices, but for the experienced it is somewhat of a let down. The instructors who work on the course day to day will very quickly sus out what car can do what and adapt easily inorder to communicate to the driver what is needed to be done on a particular part of the track(s). Much like a stig with a human face and no gills.

The day opens with coffee and briefing at 9 for an hour then all cars assemble at the centre of the purpose built hi speed track for a couple of hours. It's mainly right-hand bends with the odd fast left. 100 can be achieved easily depending on the car (full circuit nearly 2 miles, I think you be given the little one). There is a banked corner on this circuit however in the two occasions this part has never been open to us. The instructors will take every one out individually then you yourselves can let rip.

Lunch Break (there should be a hospitality van with complimentary tea and coffee, but there are lunch pubs nearby).

The adverse handling course (tarmac rally stage) is a less than a mile long and for those with a stick shift you rarely get more than 2nd gear. All bends are very tight (not really for the 6's unless we can switch to RWD only). For me this was the best part of the day (at the time I was driving a tuned japanese rice cooker). It's a barsteward on the brakes tho. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After an hour or so it's back to the hi speed circuit for a few fast laps then closing with the presentations. The day should finish around 5 or just before.

Oh, nearly forgot, the wet handling fits in either the AM or PM. As for the 4x4 bit - well we can forget that.

[BigMo]

forgot to say - on the first trip I drove their carz (Scoobys) and got thro two set of tyres and burn't a few disks too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigMo]

................don't want anyone to brick themselves.

[GrahamS4]

Sounds like your day was run a little different to our planned event. There is a sit down lunch layed on so I understand and you will never be in the car without an instructor and unless the even torganiser keep this up their sleeve, there will not be any cars other than our own.

In terms of brakes, if there is a section of the day that is too OTT for my liking I will either be sitting it out of requesting the tuition to take more of a steady road driving approach rathre than repeated frantic pre corner braking.


Personally looking forward to the high(er) speed track and the wet handling.

[GrahamS4]

One of the other groups that have exclusive days on the event we are attending was the Jaguar owners club, who attended with the full 18 places filled. I think that is sign enough the day will cater for the vehicles attending.

[BigMo]

oh don't get me wrong - these prodrive days have something for everyone. I would say that an S4 in the twisty bit'll probably fair better than an RS6 (being a heavier car). As for the Hi speed thingy, each to their own. Yes I did forget the fact that instructor must ride shotgun (apparently it's the rules) - unless one knows a member of staff (mate who works there as an instructor which is how I wangled it).

[Daz]

When I did the day there with Drivetrain we didn't need the instructor to ride shotgun. We only had a instructor in the car for the 1st few laps and it was up to us if we wanted futher instruction.

[SteveH]

Sorry, won't be coming along to this. Enjoy!