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Walking the GP Track of Sepang
Porsche is arguably the most driver-driven car manufacturer in the world. Their cars are not always the fastest and the most powerful, but the carefully balanced and intelligent performance has helped them win the most races; 4000 victories awarded to the 911, plus 19 victories at Le Mans says it all
And this technology is translated by road cars very powerful, usable and pleasant to high performance.
With a strong focus on driving, Porsche is helping to improve driving skills and road safety by launching the Porsche Media Academy (Porsche MDA) to train journalists to drive better, safer, faster and more efficiently.
Porsche also offers Porsche driving experience in some parts of the world. enthusiastic. Similar to the Porsche MDA but offered to the general public, it allows enthusiasts to register and drive the latest Porsche models safely around a race track under the direction of an expert. To date, there are 16 Porsche Driving Experience installations around the world, including Malaysia, on the Sepang International Circuit for the Asia-Pacific region.
I had the pleasure of participating in the ELITE Level program for the Porsche MDA last week. I had already attended the PROFESSIONAL level driving program on the Bira circuit in Thailand in 2015, and I had also attended the courses of Porsche Sport Driving School in Aldenhoven outside Dusseldorf in Germany. The Porsche MDA reflects the Porsche Driving Experience program in that it offers driving courses for beginners, up to the training program of Porsche race car drivers
driving hard and fast, and trying the latest Porsche models
Even if you're a veteran, driving like any other skill requires constant practice to stay strong. Years of daily driving bring out bad driving habits. A refresher course in high performance driving on a Formula One Grand Prix circuit is always welcome. As a bonus, we would be driving some of the latest Porsche models, including the 991 GT3 mk2, the 718 Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS and the Panamera Sport Turismo, as well as the 911 GTS which now features turbocharged engines.
At the beginning of a short classroom session to explain theories of driving, safety reminders and what to expect from the day, we headed on the right track.
The first exercise was the throttle. In the Sepang bends, the 4-7 lap sequence, braking here would allow your opponent to overtake, and could destabilize your car causing a spin-out. By carefully modulating the throttle, the car's cornering behavior changes, allowing you to turn a tighter line with minimal steering input, resulting in faster speeds. Simple, but it takes a lot of attention and concentration to get things right, especially in a big GT like Sport Turismo. On a smaller car such as the Cayman GTS, the car would change very quickly behavior, which would cause its own challenges. My take-away from this? Pay attention to how you adjust your throttle inlet, and never jump on it or not, as this would cause a twisting.
The next was track braking, being the most difficult. Normal driving teaches us to slow down gradually: brake in the brakes but continue to apply positive pressure. Good braking (or cornering braking) requires that you find the limit to the force with which you can press the brake, while the wheels are turned, without spinning, then gradually release the brakes to allow you to carry as much speed in the turn. This really scared me because the speeds were high, the sweepers were inclined and it was a crucial section of the track as we used the 11-14 turns just before reaching the first of the two straight lines of Sepang. After a few laps, I got it. It is not surprising that this is an advanced skill
. The third activity was the moose event or the emergency lane change maneuver from 100 km / h, and then stopped immediately. Many cars today have sophisticated electronic driving aids to keep you in control. Porsche does a better job by removing all the driving aids to see how you can control the car. We went six laps in two different cars: the first time was with electronic aids, the second time was with SPORT or Sport Plus (+) electronic aids allowing a little more sliding and sliding depending on the 39, instructor and vehicle, and the last lap was every driving help off. This is perhaps the most useful skill that we should practice in our own cars, as it simulates the emergency avoidance of a stopped car, debris from the road or traffic. jaywalks pedestrians in front of us.
The International Distribution of the Porsche Media Academy at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia
The last activity was guided around the Sepang GP track. Following an instructor who coached us by radio, we were lucky enough to try the 991 GT3 mk2, the 911 GTS, plus the 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS. The GT3 was the fastest, strongest and most intense experience with the highest turn and braking limits, but with very little leeway for mistakes. You really had to have your mind in the GT3! We reached 220 km / h on the main straight and 140-180 km / h through the complex sweepers despite instructors intentionally slowing us down for safety. Here, all previous exercises have become alive. Subsequently, the Cayman and Boxster GTS mid-engined cars felt much more playful, but surprisingly, felt more benign, easier to catch when you crossed the line and easier to drive fast. In total, we did about 30 high-speed guided tours on the 5.5 km circuit, which is about 165 km of high-speed track driving. The next day, my whole body was suffering from all this effort and everything that struck me!
We also did a short fitness session, where a sports doctor gave us tips on how to relax before driving. neck exercises. The massive g-forces that our head crosses on the track, coupled with a helmet, it's not a joke!
The cherry on the cherry was a rifle race with Will Bamber in a real Porsche GT3 Cup Car. Will is the younger brother of Porsche factory driver Earl Bamber, a Le Mans champion who drove the 919 LMP1 Hybrid in 2016 and 2017. It was an intense and white attack ride that brought me good shot of the case. satisfactory!
Overall, the experience was really one for the record books! Learn new things, drive hard and fast and try the latest Porsche models will always be a memorable event. I'm just sad that this is the final program of the Porsche MDA. Really, there is no substitute for good driver training on the right track. Interested in doing similar activities that I've done? Find out about Porsche Philippines for the Porsche Driving Experience in Sepang, Malaysia.
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