From January 2022, the AMG Driving Academy will welcome once again welcome you to the AMG Winter Experience in Arjeplog, Sweden. On an exclusively used ice lake covering more than 83 acres and numerous perfectly prepared sections and handling tracks, the participants experience the fascination of AMG. In the process, they learn to control their vehicle in borderline situations and improve their driving skills, without, of course, neglecting the fun of driving. Throughout the event, qualified instructors will be on hand to provide expert advice based on their many years of experience in various motorsport classes. The customers thus improve their individual driving skills.

AMG Winter Experience: unforgettable driving experiences in Sweden

At selected training sessions, well-known racing drivers and AMG Brand Ambassadors Maro Engel, Bernd Schneider, Karl Wendlinger and Bernd Mayländer among others, will also be on hand to offer their professional expertise to answer any questions on proper vehicle handling. Maro Engel was runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship in 2007. He competed in the DTM and is one of the world’s best GT3 drivers with his numerous victories, including the GT World Cup in Macau and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. With his five title wins, Bernd Schneider is the record holder in the DTM. In 2013, he won both the Dubai 24-hour race and the Nürburgring 24-hour race in an SLS AMG GT3. From 1991 to 1995, Karl Wendlinger was active in Formula 1^® and was a driver in the DTM from 2002 to 2003. The Austrian has been a Mercedes-AMG Brand Ambassador since 2012. Since 2001, Bernd Mayländer has been the official driver of the Formula 1^® Safety Car.

AMG Winter Experience: unforgettable driving experiences in Sweden

The AMG Winter Experience vehicle fleet

The fleet of vehicles used in the AMG Winter Experience includes the following models:

• Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption 8.4-8.3 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 192-190 g/km)^[1]
• Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption 8.3-8.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 190-187 g/km)¹
• Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (combined fuel consumption 10.8 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 246 g/km)1
• Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé (combined fuel consumption 12.5 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 285 g/km)¹

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ provides absolute top performance in the compact sports car segment with a 4-cylinder turbo engine developing 310 kW (421 hp) and 500 Nm. Unrestricted performance and maximum driving pleasure are guaranteed, which is why the compact car model is an ideal addition to the sporty vehicle range for the AMG Winter Experience. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé marks the top spot of the four-door model range. Particularly when driving in a sporty style, the fully variable 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive ensures optimum traction. The four-door coupé not only accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds; thanks to the additional RACE driving program including Drift Mode, highly dynamic driving manoeuvres are also possible. Depending on the event format and option package, the vehicles will be single- or double crewed.

AMG Winter Experience: unforgettable driving experiences in Sweden

The right program for every driving ability

The AMG Winter Experience has something for everyone – from beginners to advanced drivers to experienced experts: the AMG Winter Experience offers the right programme for every AMG fan. The “Basic” training level is ideal for beginners. In the individual formats, such as the “Discover” event format, the focus is on driving safety and getting to know the Mercedes-AMG vehicles. The “Advanced” training level serves as additional training. Here, the driver can expand on the basics of driving physics that they have already learned. In addition, they delve deeper into the handling of high-performance vehicles in challenging situations and with the Mercedes-AMG driver assistance and performance systems. During the “Advanced Week”, participants have five days to improve their driving skills. For the “Pro” training level, sufficient previous experience gained in an already-completed AMG Advanced Training course or a comparable training course is a prerequisite. In the “Pro Week” event format, personal driving skills can be specifically improved through increased individual support in small groups. The “Masters” training level is ideal for very experienced drivers. In intensive technical discussions with experienced racing drivers on and off the training ground, they expand their knowledge and test driving at the absolute limit in the individual “Pro Plus” format.

As a special highlight, exciting contests such as a “Drift Competition” are on the agenda at selected events. Here, the participants can prove how safely they can perform a drift on the ice track. In the “Race of Champs” competition, the best drivers from various preliminary rounds compete against each other for victory. In some training formats, a spectacular ride in the AMG Ice Taxi complements the experience. With maximum traction and power, the AMG Ice Taxi with its special studded tyres shows what is possible in challenging conditions.

Exclusive highlights away from the training ground

For special feel-good moments beyond the driving experiences, the comfortable accommodation at Hotel Silverhatten**** and the AMG Lodge****, which is exclusively accessible to those taking part in the AMG Winter Experience, will be available. Only 18 km from the training ground, Hotel Silverhatten offers a great view of the wintry landscape of northern Sweden and has many amenities such as a restaurant, hotel bar, sauna, whirlpool, relaxation area and gym. The 4-star AMG Lodge**** is equipped with 29 exclusive single and double rooms and impresses with a dreamlike view of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Participants in the AMG Winter Experience receive complimentary access to all offers provided by the Silverhatten Hotel. Throughout the entire event, culinary delights await them with Swedish creations and international specialities.

The AMG Driving Academy presents its varied driving program for 2021. Together with the tour operator AMG Experiences GmbH, the AMG Driving Academy has developed two event formats for the summer and winter: AMG Racetrack-Trainings and AMG Explorer. The concepts range from diverse training sessions on Europe’s best-known racetracks to fascinating driving excursions on the most beautiful country roads and intensively getting familiar with the Mercedes-AMG brand at the Affalterbach location.

AMG Explorer

Fun training on the racetrack for every driving skill

The AMG Racetrack-Trainings promise driving enjoyment on the racetrack for beginners and ambitious motorsports fans. The events are divided into four different training levels: Basic, Advanced, Pro and Masters. From beginners and advanced drivers through to seasoned experts – the AMG Racetrack-Trainings have the right program for all levels of experience and proficiency. The participants train their driving skills on legendary racetracks such as the Nürburgring Grand Prix track, Nordschleife, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Hockenheimring under the supervision of experienced instructors. The AMG Racetrack-Trainings don’t just profit from the AMG instructors’ and AMG brand ambassadors’ many years of experience, but are supported by modern video and data analysis during selected training sessions.

The vehicle pool used for this year’s AMG Racetrack-Trainings comprises the following models: theMercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption: 8.4 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 192 g/km), the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 10.8 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 246 g/km), the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 12.5 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 285 g/km) and the Mercedes-AMG GT R (combined fuel consumption: 13.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 299 g/km). In addition, Racetrack Trainings guests have the exclusive chance to drive the Mercedes-AMG GT4 and Mercedes-AMG GT3 out on the racetrack.And the most exciting part is the addition of the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (combined fuel consumption: 12.8 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 292 g/km) to the fleet, promising to deliver an adrenaline rush complete with goosebumps with its V8 biturbo engine. The choice of vehicles varies depending on the event. In addition, you have the option of taking part in your own Mercedes-AMG vehicle during selected training sessions.

AMG Racetrack-Trainings

Performance and panorama in the beating heart of the brand and on the most beautiful country roads.

The AMG Explorer events guarantee exclusive brand experiences, unforgettable moments of enjoyment and lots of driving pleasure on the most beautiful routes: the Explore the Scenery event series, will take you through the Alps to Kitzbühel, through Bavaria’s Alpine foothills to Tegernsee and through Styria to Graz.

The Cruise to Kitzbühel event sees participants start in Affalterbach with a factory tour and they then drive to Kitzbühl in a fleet of selected Mercedes-AMG models. Highlights along the route are the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, the culinary pit stop in the Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt as well as Schloss Fuschl. In Kitzbühel, the participants spend the night in the renowned Kitzbühel Country Club, which is usually only open for members of the club.

The Up and Down in Graz tour includes a guided driving excursion with selection of the latest Mercedes-AMG models. Arriving at their destination in Graz, the iconic G-Class awaits guests in the off-road track of the G-Class Experience Center. The participants manoeuvre the G-Class through the challenging off-road park with inclines of up to 35°, including breathtaking climbs, a muddy trenches and spectacular winding passages.

At the heart of the historic brand in Affalterbach, participants will learn all the details and background information about the vehicles and the brand from a professional guide on an exclusive factory tour. A guided driving excursion in the latest Mercedes-AMG models rounds off the half-day or full-day event.

The AMG Driving Academy program will be steadily expanded throughout the year. Customers can look forward to future events.

Professional support from the AMG brand ambassadors

In addition to the experienced AMG instructors, the AMG brand ambassadors Maro Engel, Bernd Schneider, Karl Wendlinger and Bernd Mayländer will be on hand to offer their extensive expertise to participants in the AMG Racetrack-Trainings and AMG Explorer events. As one of the best GT3 drivers in the world, Maro Engel will help the participants to get the most out of the performance and dynamics of the Mercedes-AMG models on the racetrack or country roads. Bernd Schneider, the five-time DTM winner among other things, has been a brand ambassador for many years and will be accompanying the AMG Driving Academy summer and autumn program. Former Formula 1 and DTM driver Karl Wendlinger as well as the official driver of the Mercedes-AMG Official FIA F1 Safety Cars™ Bernd Mayländer will support the participants with many tips and tricks on vehicle handling and look forward to open discussions with the participants.

A comprehensive hygiene and safety plan was developed especially for the AMG Driving Academy events within the scope of the Covid-19 pandemic that goes well beyond the legal requirements. Detailed information on the hygiene and safety plan can be found on the website of the tour operator AMG Experiences at www.amg-experiences.com. All event dates and details are subject to the further development of the Covid-19 pandemic and the legal regulations in force on the respective event dates.

About the AMG Driving Academy

Not only in Germany, but also for example in Australia, China, Japan, Russia or the USA – in a total of 15 markets – the AMG Driving Academy has been thrilling its customers with exclusive performance driving events since 2007.

The events are organised by the external and independent tour operator AMG Experiences GmbH. All AMG Racetrack-Trainings and AMG Explorer event formats are now available to book via the company’s website (www.amg-experiences.com) or via the service hotline on +49 (0)711 652 000 222. You can obtain further information about the program by contacting the Service Centre of the tour operator AMG Experiences GmbH at info@amg-experiences.com.

Green light for the world’s fastest family. The AMG Driving Academy is now offering its 2020 winter sporting events in the far north of Sweden. These winter driver training events in Lapland have been revised and extended for the new season, and will ensure even more variety and enjoyment when driving on snow and ice. The ultra exclusive training venue, a picturesque frozen lake near Arjeplog, provides the ideal opportunity to further refine personal driving skills. On an area covering around 47 football fields, guests of the AMG Driving Academy can enjoy numerous driving and handling circuits that are not only named after world-famous circuits, but also replicate them architecturally to some extent.

The headquarters and centrepiece for participants in the Premium Level training is the exclusive AMG Lodge – an idyllic starting point for the small groups of participants wishing to refine their driving skills under the professional guidance of experienced instructors in vehicles from the AMG portfolio. The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+, Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé, Mercedes-AMG GT S and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+.

Mercedes-AMG GT S;Combined fuel consumption11.5 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 262 g/km*

The training sessions are carried out by the travel agency AMG Experiences, on whose website (www.amg-experiences.com) all of the training formats can be booked with immediate effect. The winter programme extends from early January to the end of March, and has 14 different training courses, starting with the AMG Winter Sporting Experience and progressing to the AMG Winter Sporting Pro Week for very experienced drivers and drifters.

From the 2020 season onwards there will also be special programmes such as the AMG Winter Sporting Adrenalin Special, which for example includes a helicopter flight over the snowy landscape of Sweden. Alongside the AMG driver training, more fun on the ground is assured by a snowmobile tour during which the participants can admire the panorama of Lapland. For those seeking even more, a drive in a Speed Car will provide the ultimate adrenalin kick.

Two sporting disciplines in an incomparable location are provided by the exclusive AMG Winter Sporting Golf Special. The participants will be able to hone their driving skills on snow and ice together with AMG brand ambassador and racing driver Maro Engel and the former DTM racing driver Bernd Schneider. In addition they can look forward to a unique golfing experience at the edge of the Arctic Circle. With professional assistance from golf pro and mental coach Robert Baker, golfing enthusiasts and beginners will learn what it means to strike a ball perfectly under the most unusual conditions during a golf session on an icy surface.

Mercedes-AMG GT S;Combined fuel consumption11.5 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 262 g/km*

Between performance and panorama

In the world’s fastest family, the programme of events is just as varied as the wide range of training courses available. The AMG Driving Academy offers a broad spectrum for a wide range of target groups – from the safety-conscious beginner to the advanced sports car enthusiast and the would-be racing driver.

Alongside the AMG Winter Sporting programme, the AMG Driving Academy also has the AMG Racetrack-Trainings programme during which participants can gradually improve their driving skills on the racetrack in a series of modular events. They are accompanied by professional instructors who teach the participants a safe and performance-oriented driving style.

Fascinating panoramic landscapes hand in hand with hallmark AMG Performance are offered by the AMG Emotion tours from spring to autumn. This is where the world’s fastest family can enjoy tours over picturesque mountain passes or on beautiful coastal roads for example. Other programme items include exclusive VIP experiences at spectacular motorsport events such as the legendary 24-hour race at Nürburgring.

Mercedes-Benz Driving Events can now be experienced in a video game for the first time. The new Project CARSTM 2 racing game enables players to demonstrate their skills on the official Driving Events winter training course in Sorsele in northern Sweden on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This special training area, which actually lies on a frozen lake, is now replicated in every detail in Project CARS 2, so players can experience the challenges of the real tracks also virtually. The racing game was developed by globally operating Slightly Mad Studios and is being published, marketed and distributed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Group. Project CARS 2 will be released on the 22nd September 2017 for PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and PC.

The official winter training area for Mercedes-Benz Driving Events is located near the Arctic Circle. Perfect ice tracks designed by Formula 1 track architect Hermann Tilke stretch for more than 15 kilometres across a frozen lake in the locality of Sorsele. Year after year, this expertly prepared course offers participants the ideal terrain to train at the highest level in extreme winter conditions under the instruction of experienced professionals. This experience has now been transferred realistically to the Project CARS 2 racing game. As a result, gaming fans from all over the world are able to discover the winter experiences offered by Mercedes-Benz Driving Events at first hand – and at home! In addition to the training course on a frozen lake, Mercedes-Benz is represented in the game by a total of 13 different cars.

To simulate realistic vehicle handling and drifting on the extreme ice tracks for the players, the racing-game experts at Slightly Mad Studios spared no efforts in their close collaboration with Mercedes-Benz and the Driving Events team. Based on location visits, participation in trainings on ice & snow, data analytics, and discussions with the Driving Events instructors and drivers, the real course and track conditions were successfully transferred almost identically to the game thanks to the complex vehicle physics and audiovisual power of Project CARS 2.

This fusion of game and reality, of real and virtual handling, also comes to the fore in online clips and video features like this: https://youtu.be/nSLcHv1EEec being the central element in a Mercedes-Benz online co-promotion campaign in combination with other social media activities. For many years, the brand with the star has been a partner of the games industry, and its vehicles are represented in video games for consoles, PC and mobile. Gaming has become an essential part of Mercedes-Benz activities within the branded entertainment sector. Through games, a global audience of millions of young people who like cars discover the fascinating appeal of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

For 2012, the AMG Driving Academy has expanded to five tracks, beginning at Palm Beach International Raceway in April.

In the U.S., there are a total of three Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy variants – BASIC, ADVANCED, and PRO.  In BASIC, drivers are introduced to the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and controlled maneuvers in a one-day track program.  You’ll start off with various focused exercises, including learning the basics of oversteer and understeer, threshold braking, slalom technique, etc., while the second half of the day is spent undertaking high-speed lead/follow exercises on the track.  If it’s you’re first time attending a driving school or you’re new to driving on a closed course, it’s a fantastic introduction to more advanced driving maneuvers that you can utilize both on and off the track.

Once you’ve completed the BASIC program, the AMG Driving Academy progresses to ADVANCED training, which is a more intensive two-day program that takes what you learned in BASIC and applies it in much greater detail to the track.  More focused exercises, high-speed lead/follow lapping and onboard data capture that allows analysis of select aspects of your driving are some of the highlights, and the event concludes with an autocross competition that tests your abilities to read race lines and to apply the other handling techniques you’ve learned in a timed event.  If you’ve attended the BASIC program, one of the past AMG Challenges or a qualified driving school (such as Skip Barber of Bondurant), it’s the ideal next step in taking your driving skills to the next level.

And finally, once you’ve completed both the BASIC and ADVANCED programs, the highest U.S. Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy level is the brand-new PRO program.  In Europe, Mercedes-AMG has been offering a variety of programs including BASIC, ADVANCED, PRO and MASTERS skill levels for the past several years, but this year marked the first time in history a PRO event has been held in the States.  It’s a three-day program held at Road Atlanta, and after building on the skills learned in the BASIC and ADVANCED courses, it’s an event that culminates with timed open lapping on one of the greatest road courses in the country.

Originally founded by the Mercedes-Benz high performance subsidiary AMG in Affalterbach, Germany in 2007, the 2012 AMG Driving Academy offers an opportunity to get behind the wheel of several AMG models including the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, SLK55 AMG and the SLS AMG. The program offers Basic, Advanced, and Pro levels of training.  Under the guidance of top professional instructors, driving enthusiasts experience the excitement of motorsports and the track capabilities of Mercedes-AMG vehicles.

The program features custom-designed exercises that showcase the dynamic driving capabilitlies of Mercedes-AMG models across five premier tracks:

• Palm Beach International Raceway (Jupiter, FL) – April 12-17
  • A favored testing venue for championship teams offering both high speeds and twisting corners, Palm Beach International Raceway is a track that will constantly challenge even the most experienced drivers.

• Lime Rock Park (Lime Rock, CT) – May 8-17
  • Few tracks are as well known and loved. This classic 1.53-mile, 7-turn course, nestled in the Berkshire Mountains of northwest Connecticut continues to excite some of the world’s best drivers since 1957.

• Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, TX) – September 6-9
  • The infield road course has hosted of some of the most exotic machinery in the world, providing drivers a chance to explore the limits of the vehicle….and themselves.

• Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA) – September 23-27  & November 8-12
  • Located in one of North America’s best destination locations — the Monterey Peninsula, Laguna Seca features tremendous elevation changes, the famous Corkscrew complex and 2.24 sinewy miles.

• Auto Club Speedway (Fonatana, CA) – October 23-30
  • The fastest track on the west coast, Auto Club Speedway offers a challenge to drivers of all levels.

The AMG Driving Academy offers three levels:

• Basic Training ($1,595): A one day program designed to teach the fundamentals of performance driving dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises that emphasize the power and handling capabilities of AMG vehicles.  Drivers will also test their skills on the track at high speeds and during performance course competition.
  • PBIR – April 12-15
  • Lime Rock – May 8, 11-12 & 14
  • Texas – September 6-9
  • Laguna Seca – September 23-24 & Nov. 8-10
  • Auto Club Speedway – October 23-28
• Advanced Training ($2,995): A two-day program that provides a deep level of technical driver training both on and off the track.  The program picks up where Basic leaves off, offering more track driving to extract a driver’s maximum potential in a performance driving setting.
  • PBIR – April 16-17
  • Lime Rock – May 9-10
  • Auto Club Speedway – October 29-30
  • Laguna Seca – Nov. 11-12

• Pro Training ($3,695): The pinnacle of the AMG Driving Academy experience in the US. Comprised of three days of intensely focused instruction and technical skills reserved for the highest level of driving, Pro Training allows for maximum speed, challenges and thrills.
  • Lime Rock – May 15-17
  • Laguna Seca – September 25-27

Additional information and registration for the AMG Driving Academy is available at www.AMGacademy.com or by phone at 1-877-646-6762.

With the release of the new “AMG Performance Series Videos” on YouTube and MBUSA offering Facebook Fans a chance to win a trip to participate in the one-day intensive Basic Course at the Academy, participating in the prestigious Mercedes-Benz AMG Driving Academy has never been easier. You can find ten instructional videos, hosted by professional racecar driver and AMG Driving Academy instructor Tommy Kendall on Facebook and YouTube. Now through September 15, 2011 on the Mercedes-Benz USA Facebook page, people can enter for a chance to win a trip for four to Laguna Seca.

Produced at the legendary Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, the ten-part video series covers many of the same racing techniques taught at the AMG Driving Academy. Four-time Trans-Am Series champion Tommy Kendall narrates the video series and with the help of other expert drivers, demonstrates a wide range of performance driving techniques. Starting with basic seating position, drivers at home will have the opportunity to experience a series of  classroom sessions aimed at honing driver skills. The third video of the series showing driver’s how to slalom can be seen below. At the conclusion of the video series, viewers will have a basic understanding of the ‘race craft’ techniques used by professional drivers.

The AMG Driving Academy, offered at Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca and Lime Rock Park, comes in three varieties:

• Basic Training– a one-day intensive program that costs $1,595. Remaining programs in 2011 are available at Laguna Seca in September (27), October (6, 7, 9, 20, 21, 22), November (8, 9) and December (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

• Advanced Training– a two day program that costs $2,995

• Pro Training– a comprehensive three day program that costs $3,695. One program remains in 2011; Laguna Seca on October 10-12

Each participant is given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a large selection of AMG vehicles, including the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and, the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz product lineup, the 563 hp SLS AMG.

A description of the Academy program including levels and preliminary schedules can be found at The AMG Driving Academy web site www.amgacademy.com.

Mercedes-Benz is taking 15 drivers, whom qualified by playing the Gran Turismo 5 driving game, and putting them to the test on a real racetrack.  15 GT5 drivers from 11 different countries will come together at Austria’s Red Bull Ring to drive for the ultimate prize, a real SLS AMG. The AMG Driving Academy will put the drivers through differnt obstacles while being judged by some of the best driver’s in the world.