Porsche hones driver skills at Silverstone base

PORSCHE can not only stake a claim to some of the finest sports cars on sale today but also a unique after-sales service.

Since the Silverstone-based Porsche Experience Centre opened  around two years ago, a full-time team of tamed racing drivers have been teaching owners of Stuttgart’s finest exports how to get the best from their cars.

With a variety of low friction surfaces soaked by water jets, a 3.1km circuit, an off-road course and a Human Resource Centre, used by numerous F1 and Superbikes racers, it's a petrolhead’s paradise.

In-Gear’s Tom Sharpe paid a visit.

Situated just off Silverstone’s Hanger Straight the Porsche Experience Centre is bathed in the sound of engines powering around the Grand Prix circuit.

From its own handling circuit and skid pans, the sound of squealing rubber excites the senses in the same way as the screams that fill the air on the approach to your favourite ride at Alton Towers.

This is a theme park for car fans and the theme is Porsche.

The Porsche Experience Centre building houses an atrium exhibiting Porsches past and present, a roof terrace, restaurant, conference facilities and the Human Resource Centre.

But the facility’s main purpose is to hone driving skills.

There’s also a chance for the sales team to tempt them with optional extras such as sports exhausts, ceramic brakes and twin-clutch gearboxes.

My day starts with lunch in the Panamera restaurant overlooking the track. As I watch Boxsters, Carreras, Turbos and GT3s whizz around at speed, suited and booted Porsche owners try to play it cool around me...but there’s a palpable sense of excitement in the air.

The excitement is palpable.

My instructor is Simon Simpson, a keen kart racer and an impressive wheelman.

He leads me outside to the car park where the 911 Carrera 2 I will be driving awaits.

I'll be driving it home after my stint with Simon...just as any owner bringing their own car to the facility might.

We head out on the track and Simon shows me the layout of the circuit, which was designed to emulate a rural B-road.

“This used to be a Rally of Great Britain Special Stage,” he reveals. “Richard Burns still holds the record around it. We’ve altered the course slightly, though, so his record will stand forever.”

After Simon’s acclimatisation laps, we swap seats.

Taking to the track.

The Experience Centres real assets are its low friction surfaces, which allow visitors to explore a cars handling traits at lower speeds than would otherwise be possible.

The Ice Hill is a seven per cent decline with a polished surface constantly doused by water fountains.

The aim is to weave between the water jets, controlling oversteer with a steady throttle.

A blip of the throttle through my first sweep sends me into a spin.

With the driver aids (Porsche Active Stability Managment) switched off the car breaks away quickly.

Water-aided automtive ballet.

With guidance from Simon, my second run sees me weave a graceful ‘S’ through the fountains, the rear of the car hanging loose.

The Carrera’s rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout means that oversteer is its predominant characteristic. Learning to control that on a surface akin to sheet ice is great fun.

The Kick Plate is a device that deliberately knocks the car’s rear wheels into an oversteer slide on approach to the low-grip surface, helping people acquire the skill of correcting skid.

Slip-sliding your way down the 75-metre, low friction area grabbing armfuls of opposite steering lock, is nothing if not enlightening.

Power oversteer is a hoot.

Finally, we head to a polished tarmac bowl at the centre of the tracks in-field.

It's an ideal place to indulge in some audacious power oversteer and for Simon to show me how effective the PASM system is.

With the system engaged, the Carreras 345bhp straight-six is tamed.

Full steering lock and a floored throttle sees the the front end gradually push wide into manageable understeer.

Turn the system off and the same process sees the rear end swing round, pendulum-like, but with a quick stab of opposite lock the Carrera is held in a controlled slide, rear tyres screeching.

Special stage unearths special skills.

Out on the special stage is where Simon reveals most to me about the advanced driving skills that can be put to most use on the roads.

Highlighting the importance of looking far up the road ahead, to identify opening or tightening bends, is an essential skill that is central to making fast, safe progress.

After around an hour on-track, Simon reveals: “It’s great that Porsche customers can come and develop their skills down here. It really is a fantastic facility.

“We have clients who keep coming back all the time. Once you have started to improve your driving, and unlocking the possibilities that brings, its hard to stop.”

I can’t argue. The Porsche Experience Centre offers a unique approach to after sales care that few rival manufacturers offer.

A gentlemen’s track day and advanced driving Mecca rolled into one.

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