Area A2 take up the Audi Driving Experience Challenge

Some of us are always up for a boys ‘away day’ or two (or three). The opportunity to sample the TT V6 DSG, the S4 V8 saloon and the RS6 Avant proved too much for Trevor, Tony, Terry and myself. Undaunted by the 1,000 mile round trip to Silverstone we met up on Tuesday lunchtime and were whisked off to the airport in one of Terry’s Espace shuttles. BA was the way to travel – we took off in good time arriving at Heathrow to collect a hire car and make our way clockwise on the M25 then North towards Silverstone. We chose to stay at the Green Man, a traditional pub with the usual modern accommodation wing and reasonable overnight room cost. It proved ideal, close to Silverstone and it turned out this was also the base for Audi’s Driving Experience teaching team.

We ventured out on the Tuesday evening, visiting Silverstone Village and the White Horse hostelry where a good meal was accompanied by sensible drinking before the big day.

We awoke to a summers morning; but not a typical one. This was the day when the adverse weather demolished a section of the Brighton Pier, when no play was possible at Wimbledon for the first time in five years, and when the heavy rain resulted in landslides in Cornwall. It was not a dry or welcoming morning.

We made our way to the circuit through the heavy rain. The circuit staff directed us to the Stowe Infield Circuit where the course was to be held. The Audi GP style motor home with awning was the meeting place for today’s candidates. We were there by 8.45am to be greeted with bacon baps and tea to prepare us for the day to come. Twenty four of us were introduced to the hospitality staff and to our three German instructors for the day; Kai-Uwe Jochims, Jocki Kleint and Jan Becker. Between them they represent a history in motor vehicle research, rallying and rally cross.

We started the day in the classroom to consider the driving position, steering wheel handling and driving physics. We were reminded that in spite of the hype and complexity of suspension components and handling packs, adhesion to the road is in the end governed by the four small parts of rubber in contact with the road surface at any given time. The forces of cornering and traction were considered with the principle of Kamm’s Circle explained. It is very neat how you can explain these forces so simply with a vector diagram – the difficulty in practice is feeling when the limit is approaching. It is much too late when you are just over it.....

The cars were lined up outside for us – five silver TT’s five blue S4’s and five red RS6’s. The group was divided into three, with eight of us being assigned to their first instructor. My group was asked to go and have a seat in the RS6’s.

For this course, the instructor took a lead car with participants sharing the remaining four vehicles as driver and passenger. At no time did the instructor come into the vehicle. He explained the task, demonstrated in his vehicle then gave advice and criticism following your best efforts.

I was joined by Alex, an insurance underwriter who drives an S3 and a 911. Jan led the RS6’s to a part of the infield where we were instructed to drive the cars on the racing line round a short part of the circuit. After four runs, drivers and passengers changed around and we repeated our exercise. Great!

Next, we went with Kai-Uwe in the TT’s to tackle a slalom course. We were encouraged to push on as fast as we could without losing control. All was well until the timed session, where three or four spinners resulted as the red mist descended.

We then joined Jocki in the S4 for a lesson in understeer. We provoked this situation by entering a corner at a suitably inappropriate speed then steering out of the corner to regain control.

Following the morning activities we all met up back at the motor home for lunch. A quality light lunch was served up and we all discussed our morning moments. The relaxing was not for long, and my group headed back into the RS6’s once again.

This exercise was one to remember. An emergency lane change at motorway speed was simulated. We accelerated flat out into a line of cones, then as late as possible before the blue cones at the end of the lane, we were required to turn left, one half turn of the wheel to change lane, turn right one half turn of the wheel, control the car and slow down – at 70mph in the wet!

The cars proved incredibly stable and most of us carried out the maneuver in a satisfactory way. However, our instructor advised us “a little more speed and turn a little later” until virtually all of us spun the RS6 through the cones. I am one of the guilty and it was great! The easiest way to find the limit is to exceed it. It took me three repeats to overcook it but I have spun that RS6!

Next, we climbed back into the TT’s for an ABS braking maneuver. By this time, most of us had worked out how the Launch Control worked – by switching off the ESP, selecting sport mode, depressing the brake then the accelerator, the engine will do 3,700rpm. When the foot is slid off the brake, off you go. Quite fun and it would get the car up to maximum speed before reaching the braking point and chicane.

We gathered once again in the Audi motorhome where we were presented with certificates for having survived the course. This also qualifies participants to go on to more advanced courses such as ice driving on a frozen Scandanavian lake, an advanced course at the infamous Nurbergring or the Barcelona Grand Prix circuit. Perhaps next year………

One further treat awaited us – the instructors offered passenger drives in the RS6’s – and did they show us a bit of fun. They informed us before we set off that they would drive with particular attention to oversteer, not the fastest way to tackle the circuit- but the most impressive. We went into corners with the car pointing close to 90° from the direction of motion. Even in the wet conditions the tyres protested loudly and were set to have a very short life. Eight laps in the dry was quoted…..

At the end of the day it was a smiling group of participants left Silverstone. These in car experiences help you to react in the correct way to an adverse situation and make you think a bit more about your driving. So was it fun? What can I say, we drove £130,000 worth of Audi finest current road cars in slippy conditions at high speed, pushed ourselves to the limit and beyond. It was a great day and an experience worth having. We all had our reasons for going, but some more than others; happy 50 th birthday, Trevor.

Pete Cassar is arranging for a club group to attend the driving experience in September, but I believe the schedule is now very busy. This is an increasingly popular Audi UK activity which has been imported from Germany where 14 – 15 thousand drivers have attend the course. But they have to use A4 1.8T quattro’s and are understandably jealous of the cars used for the UK course. It is not an inexpensive experience, but as they say, life is too short. If you are lucky enough to have a spare £350 – go for it.

Stephen McPherson
For Area A2

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