Audi driving experience: treat yourself to a track driving course in the Audi R8

The driving courses from Audi driving experience are one of the best ways to improve your driving skills while testing the sportiest model from the brand with the four rings. And I mean it: when I say the sportiest, I mean none other than the Audi R8 V10 plus, a “machine” with a V10 engine producing 610 CV that, I’ll warn you now, has one serious problem: driving it is addictive…

But let’s start at the beginning. If you’ve made it this far and are reading this, it’s because you love cars, a lot. My suggestion is this: have you ever considered attending one of these courses? If you haven’t, you should start considering it right now; you’ll see why shortly. And if you’ve ever been tempted but never went because you weren’t sure the investment would be worth it, take my advice: book one of these driving courses as soon as possible. The key is to be clear about which one interests you.

The author of this piece has been lucky enough to have already taken several driving courses, with different brands and schools, of all kinds. And I can assure you that even when you repeat one, you always learn something new. Also, you can always consider the driving courses run by the car brands themselves as a way to try out any of the models you’re interested in.

The Sportscar course from Audi: extreme sensations

This time I was invited by Audi to attend one of the courses at its Audi driving experience school. None other than the so-called Sportscar, the most advanced of the three they offer on asphalt, in a very special setting: the Jarama Circuit in Madrid.

Like all the courses, it starts with a theory class, although here they won’t keep you entertained for long. With Jordi Gené at the helm as the school’s director, all the specialized instructors have as much patience as they have skill. From the very first moment one thing is clear: this is a course designed with a dual objective, safety and enjoyment. Some basic explanations about the circuit and a few tips—keep this one in mind: anticipation and looking far ahead, not just right in front of the car—and you quickly move on to action, which is where real learning happens.

My recommendation before tackling a course like Sportscar is to have first completed the Progressive course. In any case, and although the Audi R8 V10 plus is impressive, there’s no need to be afraid; but mind you, never lose your respect for it. The Audi instructors are there at all times to help you adapt to the car, which begins with basic exercises and learning laps through the different sectors of the circuit. The idea is to get familiar with the car, but also with the racing line, for which direct radio communication with the instructor at all times is a great help, along with the cones that mark the turning points and the apexes of the corners.

“You won’t find another driving course like the Audi driving experience Sportscar, where you experience more extreme sensations behind the wheel”

Alongside these maneuvers, braking exercises are also carried out behind the wheel of an Audi RS 6 Avant, where you’ll put your quadriceps to the test. Whatever force you manage to apply with your right foot on the brake pedal will feel like too little, but this exercise is key if you really want to go fast on the track later. Above all because the feel and braking behavior of a car equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes, like the Audi R8 V10 plus and the RS 6 Avant used in these courses, has no equivalent outside racing cars.

And then comes the highlight of the course: the fast laps around the circuit. Yes, I’m sure you were wondering: you go alone in the car, following the instructor who opens the track ahead, in groups of three cars. Laps are done in runs of three, at the pace set by the instructor. Are they going to let you go full speed? As much as you’re capable of… as long as you show good control and don’t do anything reckless. The instructor will adapt the pace to yours; don’t worry, no matter how good you think you are, you’ll never catch up to them.

If you’ve never driven a car on a circuit, the experience is worth it. If you’ve already driven on a track but never tried an Audi R8, it’s worth it too. What’s more, there’s no better setting than a circuit to really test a car like this one, with its 610 CV, capable of reaching 330 km/h—don’t even dream of it, the track doesn’t allow for that—and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds.

Three things surprise you about the Audi R8 V10 plus. The first, its acceleration capability. Count out loud to three and you’ll see what I mean… you’re already at 100 km/h, and that’s assuming you start from a standstill. The second, its braking power. And the third, how easy it can be to drive a supercar with more than 600 CV; going truly fast is another matter. Just apply what they’ve explained to you and suddenly you’ll feel like a racing driver (the mandatory helmet helps). Decisions when braking, anticipation to take the corners properly… and it all comes naturally. Special mention for the dual-clutch gearbox: I love playing with the paddles, but in sport mode it works so well that you can forget about them and focus only on the steering wheel and pedals. The car takes care of the rest, and between runs you’ll even have time to experience how it behaves with the different programs of Audi drive select.

Audi driving experience: courses for all levels

In addition to the Sportscar course, Audi driving experience has a complete program of driving courses, both on snow and on asphalt, and this year they’ve also just launched a new Off-Road one.

The “Winter driving experience” courses take place during the winter season and are always held on ice and snow. There are two options: Baqueira and Sierra Nevada. In both cases, the Audi proposal is ideal for combining a weekend of skiing and driving, while testing the brand’s quattro range. They’re a lot of fun for the sensations you experience behind the wheel if you’ve never driven in snow, and they’ll also help you improve your safety. Keep in mind that in just a few hours you’ll spend more time with the car “sideways” than during your entire life as a driver, learning to control the vehicle’s reactions like those you might face on the road in an unexpected situation.

Among the asphalt courses there are three levels: Dynamic, Progressive and Sportscar. The most basic starts at 150 euros (130 euros for brand customers) and is ideal for improving your driving skills and learning how to make the most of safety and driver assistance systems. My recommendation is to go straight to the intermediate course, the Progressive. It costs 240 euros (200 euros for Audi customers), but in addition to what you can learn in the previous one, you’ll also get the chance to drive on a circuit and try some of Audi’s sportiest models, such as the RS 3, RS 4 Avant, RS 5 and TT RS. Plus, they’re held in many more locations and the calendar is wider. As for the Sportscar course, there’s not much more to say that I haven’t already mentioned. The latest sessions take place from June 18 to 21 at the Castelliolí Circuit, but you can already start saving up for next season. They have a price of 690 euros, which drops to 545 euros for brand customers.

As for the new Off Road course from Audi driving experience, take note because they’re almost fully booked. They’ll take place from November 19 to 21, in the natural area of Les Comes (Barcelona). Prices start at 200 euros, and it’s not only about learning to face the challenges of driving off asphalt; it’s also a unique opportunity to test the Audi A4 allroad, Q5 and Q7.

You can check the full range of courses, the calendars, the activities and the cars you can test on the website of Audi driving experience. Are you up for it?

Audi driving experience Sportscar image gallery