ONE OF THE BEST driving experience programs is run by Audi Australia (under the capable guidance of Steve Pizzati) and it has been announced that for 2019 there will be some changes, including removal of most of the prerequisites required of participants.
The Audi Advanced Driving Experience and Audi Sport Driving Experience have been discontinued, replaced by a new Audi Dynamic Driving Experience that is, effectively, a combination of the two. Price for the day is $1250 per participant.
Cars that will be used include Audi Sport models, the SQ7, RS3 sedan and Sportback, RS5 coupe and TT RS coupe. The current generation RS6 Avant Performance wagon will also be used, but will make way for coming new model.
Participation is limited to 32 people and includes high-speed ABS emergency braking, a steering slalom, slide control and oversteer practice, cornering theory and practice, a motorkhana competition, unrestricted track lapping and hot laps.
The Audi Sport Pro Driving Experience is limited to 12 participants in the Audi R8 V10. It includes a full circuit walk and track analysis, warm-up training, one-on-one personal coaching, full Grand Prix track lapping and lapping debrief and analysis. It costs $3500.
At the top end, the $6800 Audi Race Driving Experience allows three participants, who have already completed the Audi Sport Pro Driving Experience, to spend a full day with the R8 LMS racecar (full details are still being developed).
An $800 Audi Women’s Driving Experience is a three-quarter day program that replaces the hot laps with lunch with an Audi Australia ambassador.
Other than the Race Driving Experience, all courses take place at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Sandown Raceway (both in Victoria), Sydney Motorsport Park (NSW), The Bend Motorsport Park (SA), Mt Cotton Driving Centre (Qld) and Barbagallo Raceway (WA).
Further details can be found at https://www.audi.com.au/au/web/en/Audi_driving_experience.html
And since we are always recommending better driver training for everybody, we strongly suggest you book yourself in. Not only is it an excellent learning experience, it’s a lot of fun (and unlike many programs, conducted in most states making it easy to attend).