AMG Driving Academy to transform motorists into racetrack pros

NO longer is speed, performance and thrills enjoyed on the racetrack exclusively for the pros. The Middle East arrival of the high-performance AMG Driving Academy training program in Abu Dhabi promises to push driver abilities to the limit in a premier selection of the latest AMG vehicles on one of the world’s most testing racetracks, the YAS Marina Circuit. Under the guidance of professional instructors and among fellow AMG enthusiasts, it’s a high-speed, gut-twisting, adrenaline-packed driving adventure like no other.
Teaching drivers to harness their full driving potential to reach unexpected levels, the AMG Driving Academy Advanced level UAE program provides the knowledge and experience for perfect control of vehicles, coupled with great passion and the utmost in driving enjoyment.
Participants are catapulted into driving greatness in the most captivating AMG high-performance models currently available, including the CLS 63 AMG, E 63 AMG, C 63 AMG, C 63 AMG Coupe and the SLK 55 AMG roadster.
The flagship of the academy, made its Middle East debut at the media launch and first intake of the AMG Driving Academy in January, is the newly launched SLS AMG GT. It evolved through the incredible success of its brother in arms, the SLS AMG GT3, which announced its arrival in the 2011 season by securing 26 victories in the FIA GT3 Series. Making its first ever track debut for regional media at the launch was the SLS AMG Roadster — a perfect synthesis of open-top driving pleasure, outstanding driving dynamics and systematic lightweight construction, with the overall visual appearance of the new two-seater marked by its purist design.
Briefing the drivers at the academy, Frank Bernthaler, director, sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East & Levant, said: “2012 was the Year of AMG in the Middle East, with a record number of drivers getting behind the wheel to feel the precision, power and emotion of AMG. With the AMG Driving Academy, our customers can now experience the full passion of AMG driving performance, developing new found skills to explore the extreme limits of what these machines can deliver.”
“The AMG Driving Academy’s advanced training ensures safe and confident reactions. With the dual personality of AMGs — at home both on the track and the drive to the office — these are skills that not only deliver maximum enjoyment of track racing, but also the well-being of our customers and their families on even the most challenging public roads,” added Bernthaler.
The AED 7,750 single day AMG Driving Academy advanced skills program concentrates on developing driving skills and sporty driving. In addition to the fundamentals of driving physics, the theoretical introduction primarily covers cornering technique, the ideal line and braking points. The mode of functioning of the various driver assistance systems, safety rules and driver behavior also play a central role in this unit.
Section training on the race circuit sees the instructors explore in detail the particular characteristics of each section of corners, while guided driving behind the instructor makes it easier for the participants to identify the ideal line and braking points.
An AMG driver training team is on hand to answer all technical questions about the vehicles, and can accommodate two groups of 10 participants each. One instructor is assigned to each group and two participants share each car. The event rises to a suitably thrilling climax with the chance for the participants to sit in the passenger seat as a professional racing driver takes them for a spin in the SLS AMG GT Race Taxi.