According to the CDC, in the U.S., Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths, a startling realization when so many of us send our kids off to school in their own cars.  To help combat the problem, Mercedes-Benz USA has announced that they will begin offering teen driver education and training in San Diego through its DMV-certified Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy beginning in 2014.  The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy offers a unique approach to driver training that is designed to develop key decision-making skills, educate parents on coaching their new teen driver and create safer and more responsible drivers for life.  We’ve recommended the AMG Driving Academy in the past, not only as a way to experience AMG Models but also as a great way to increase your skills and make you a better driver overall.  We’re very happy to hear that MBUSA is continuing to make the roads safer by expanding it’s teen driving academy.

“Distracted driving is only one of the many challenges that today’s teens face on the road,” said Carolyn Duchene, director of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy. “Our goal at Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is to develop safer teen drivers and provide parents with some peace of mind. At the same time, parental involvement is the key to avoiding needless tragedies behind-the-wheel.”

“Mercedes-Benz has a long history and continuous efforts to improve vehicle safety. The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is a natural extension of our ongoing commitment to accident-free driving,” Duchene said. Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy launched in Los Angeles in 2011 as the first international teen driving school, and now offers programs in Orange County.

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy’s approach is designed to reinforce current policies which serve to enhance new driver safety such as the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) rules. The GDL framework provides for compulsory driver’s education, combining classroom or online learning, on-road training, mandatory supervised practice, and restricted driving privileges once a novice driver starts driving solo. Through the use of an integrated program to reinforce learning points throughout the learner driver period, combined with parental involvement, the students can realize greater benefits of GDL.

Prior to launch, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy will offer complimentary Parent-Teen Workshops and work with Mercedes-Benz Dealerships and local schools to bring teen driver safety programs to the market. These workshops will help educate parents and teens on GDL laws & restrictions, DMV requirements for obtaining a license and permit, and tips on how to choose the best driving school to meet their goals.

According to a recent report, fatal crash rates among 18 and 19 year old drivers have increased nationally  following the enactment of Graduated Driver License (GDL) programs. One explanation is that teens are simply waiting until they are 18 years old when the GDL no longer applies to them. Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy’s coaching approach is beneficial for drivers of all ages, including licensed drivers who want to hone their skills behind the wheel.

For more information on Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy or any of the activities mentioned above, visit Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy or call 888-MBDA-USA.

Mercedes-Benz is starting the 2012/2013 season with a new wide-ranging program of driving safety training events designed to appeal to all types of drivers. Courses for young people, beginners, advanced and even expert drivers are being offered at 14 locations throughout Germany using vehicles generally provided by Mercedes-Benz – including saloons, coupés, roadsters or off-road vehicles.

The AMG Driving Academy is not only active in Europe though. Training events have also been held in America since 2009, and in China since 2010 – at the Laguna Seca Raceway (California) or the Shanghai International Circuit, for example. A totally new development is the AMG Driving Academy’s involvement in India: a kick-off event took place at the Buddh International Circuit against the backdrop of the Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2012. Three further BASIC training courses will follow this year. Four BASIC training events and four ADVANCED training events will also be taking place in Italy for the first time this year. Events are also in the pipeline for AMG customers in Japan and Russia.

The goal of the events is to help drivers to handle their vehicles in a safer and more confident manner, even in emergency situations – and of course to ensure that they enjoy the experience of driving.

One fact confirmed by the accident statistics is that Mercedes drivers are involved in fewer accidents than drivers of cars made by other manufacturers. And this is an area in which the diverse range of driving safety training events offered by Mercedes-Benz can make a contribution. It is all part of the comprehensive safety philosophy of the brand with the star – which in addition comprises accident research and the development of trend-setting assistance and safety systems based on this research and which other automotive brands have also adopted.

Taking place at 14 on and off-road locations throughout Germany, the driving safety training events enable participants to learn how to be more aware of typical danger situations and to practise appropriate responses. By providing courses almost nationwide and at reasonable prices – the half-day basic compact training event for 18 to 25-year olds, for example, costs just 95 euros – Mercedes-Benz is aiming at as many car drivers as possible. Ultimately all road users are able to benefit from the confident car control practised during the training, not just Mercedes drivers. Any accident is one accident too many.

The target group for the various courses is correspondingly diverse, ranging from learner drivers to experienced professionals, and from sales training to events for professional drivers and chauffeurs. The sole requirement is that the driver must hold a class 3/class B driver’s licence.

According to Wolfgang Müller, Chief Instructor for Mercedes-Benz Driving Events: “We offer training events to meet a variety of different interests, so for example not only classic driving safety training sessions which can be aimed specifically at young drivers who are still a bit inexperienced, but also pure sports driving training events for highly motivated drivers.” The sports driving training sessions are not just geared towards fun but also towards driving safety. Anyone who is able to control a vehicle at its limits is more composed and considered in situations of danger. Another highlight is that the participants take part in the training using vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz. This enables exercises to be incorporated which are considerably more dynamic. In addition, the instructors also have the opportunity to demonstrate how effective modern assistance systems can be – as a safety pioneer, Mercedes-Benz provides technologies in this area which are simply not available, or not yet available, in other vehicles. Almost the entire Mercedes-Benz model range is available for the training events.

In addition to extensive driving skills and experience, all of the instructors have the distinct ability to convey the various interconnected driving physics principles in such an easy-to-understand manner that the participants are able to apply them in practice in their everyday driving.

There are on and off-road events designed to take place both in the summer and the winter. The most important events include:

• Basic compact training: on this half-day course, participants find out how an accident can be prevented effectively. Exercises include full brake application combined with an evasive manoeuvre, and a slalom course. Compact training is also available as a reasonably-priced special training event for 18 to 25-year-olds.

• Basic training: as part of this one-day event, the participants learn how dangerous situations can be dealt with safely and confidently with support from active control systems. The demanding program of lessons includes taking evasive action without braking from 80 km/h, emergency braking and correcting skidding vehicles.

• Advanced training: this extension course provides additional solutions for dealing with hazardous situations at higher speeds – such as emergency braking at 100 km/h or controlling a rear-end skid on a wet bend.

• Enhanced training: here exercises are conducted at high speeds. For example, participants learn how to keep their vehicle under control during an emergency lane change manoeuvre at motorway speeds of 130 km/h. In addition, challenging drift exercises on famous race tracks are also on the agenda.

• Sports training: with this new training event, racing enthusiasts enjoy the unique opportunity to experience driving from the perspective of a racing driver. For example, they learn how to find the ideal line and optimum braking point.

• Eco training: during this half-day event, attendees take part in simple practical and theoretical exercises to learn how to reduce fuel consumption by handling their car more efficiently. On average, those who complete the eco training course subsequently use 15 percent less fuel.

• Professional basic training: this event enables professional drivers to enhance their driving skills. For example, the program includes performing an evasive manoeuvre at 100 km/h in a predefined direction through a set of traffic lights, emergency braking scenarios and correcting a tail-skidding vehicle at motorway speed, for example. Driving practice is complemented by theoretical exercises tailored to the specific profession with trainers who also instruct police taskforces.

• Mercedes-Benz Fascination Tour: this is a new addition to the range of Mercedes-Benz driving events. This one-day driving experience in vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz features highlights focusing on the history and present status of the brand in Stuttgart and the surrounding area.

• Mercedes-Benz Fascination Experience: this event immerses participants in the world of Mercedes-Benz for two full days. A visit to the wind tunnel and test track at the plant in Untertürkheim is followed by a voyage of discovery around the Mercedes-Benz Museum and an evening meal together. On the second day, it is on to the training circuit with the opportunity to put the current model range through its paces in slaloming, braking and evasive manoeuvres.

• Off-road events: at a variety of off-road driving training events participants are able to discover what an off-road vehicle is capable of and how to keep such a vehicle under control both on and off the road. In addition to basic training, additional stages are available such as advanced training, enhanced training and extreme training. New additions include a range of winter off-road training events. In the spacious stone quarry outside Kitzbühel, participants are able to get to grips with difficult terrain at half or full-day training events using G, GL, GLK and M-Class vehicles.

• Travel Experience: discovering the world with Mercedes – this is what the participants in the Travel Experience event can expect to enjoy. There are trips to Abu Dhabi, for example, with its endless dune-covered landscape and perfect sandy beaches offering relaxation. Other trips of a lifetime include experiencing Spain from a different perspective or enjoying an off-road adventure in the wintry Arctic Circle. A particular highlight is the “Journey to the Roof of the World”: lasting some 47 days, it takes participants from Lodz in Poland all the way to India, travelling via Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.

• Enhanced Experience Sweden: a winter adventure without compromise comprising four days in Sweden, 22 hours on a frozen lake located 150 km south of the Arctic Circle, individual coaching sessions, a rally competition and much more.

The RoadSense road safety awareness program: a chance for 13-year-olds to get behind the wheel

The aim of the RoadSense road safety awareness initiative is to minimise the risks to which young road users are prone. As part of the RoadSense road safety awareness initiative developed by the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, Year 8 pupils are allowed to get behind the wheel of a car under professional supervision and on handling circuits away from traffic. The 13 to 15-year-old students are not taught how to drive – it is about experiencing what it is like behind the wheel. The main emphasis is on typical conflict situations that may be encountered as a passenger and learning how to deal with these responsibly.

All types of schools can register with the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for their Year 8 classes to take part in the RoadSense road safety awareness program. Further information is available from Mercedes-Benz by emailing roadsense-stuttgart@daimler.com , or online from www.mbdrivingacademy.com.

AMG Driving Academy: from the first experience of driving at the limit to intensive race circuit training

The AMG Driving Academy also provides a wide-ranging program of events which not only meet the most diverse requirements but also represent the very embodiment of pure excitement. Events on offer include enjoyment-oriented EMOTION tours, special winter driving training sessions in Swedish Lapland and exciting events on legendary racing circuits such as the North Loop of the Nürburgring, the Hockenheimring or Zandvoort. A particular highlight is the MASTERS program, at which participants are able to drive the SLS AMG GT3, the racing version of the gullwing model. A typical element of all AMG Driving Academy events is the unique, passionate performance experience which the participants are able to enjoy first hand in line with the AMG brand claim of “driving performance”.

As a world first and a unique offering not available from other providers, the AMG Driving Academy, which was established in 2007, is also able to offer climate-neutral dynamic driving events – thus proving that driving pleasure and concern for the environment can be combined perfectly.

The new program from the AMG Driving Academy comprises professionally designed training measures which will enable ambitious sports car enthusiasts to improve their individual control of their vehicles and enhance their active driving safety. All events staged by the AMG Driving Academy feature advanced training methods which guarantee a swift grounding in the basics of driving dynamics. Acquainting drivers with both their own limitations and their vehicles’ limits in a totally safe manner is also on the agenda. Another key focus is on thrilling driving experiences with exciting high-performance vehicles such as the SLS AMG, C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series or SLK 55 AMG.

Erstwhile Formula 1 driver Karl Wendlinger becomes new instructor

Karl Wendlinger (Austria) is a new addition to the team of professional instructors. From 1990 to 1991 the 43-year-old racing driver was a member of the Mercedes junior team competing in the World Sportscar Championship along with Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. In 1991 he switched to Formula 1. The AMG Driving Academy’s core team also includes DTM driver Susie Wolff, DTM championship record holder Bernd Schneider, and also Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the Official F1™ Safety Car. Racing driver Reinhold Renger remains in the post of chief instructor. In all, the AMG Driving Academy has 30 instructors on its roster.

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.

The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy isn’t just for experience drivers anymore.  The first Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for teen driver’s, located on W. 3rd Street in Los Angeles, California, is nearly finished and ready to take on new pupils.

Working alongside an independent team of professionals in transit and driver education, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is finalizing both its facility and curriculum – presenting a new approach to driver education while meeting and exceeding California DMV requirements.

Mercedes-Benz, a leader in automobile safety, is making a major commitment to driver education and safety in Southern California to combat the alarming statistics surrounding teen car crashes in the region. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number one cause of death amongst adolescents ages 15-20 is a car crash. National averages show that teens are most likely to have a significant crash in their first year of driving, four-times higher than an adult or experienced driver.

The new methodologies and approach for the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is based on findings of the highly acclaimed HERMES research group, including European traffic safety organizations and institutions, confirming the most effective methods for both teaching and learning. Coaching, a learner-centered method, will lead students out of the passive consuming of safety information into the role of actively producing safe driving results by making better decisions on the road.

Proven successful at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy in the U.K., the California Academy program is a customized curriculum involving a highly interactive, participatory system of key tactical on-line and classroom components in conjunction with appropriate on-road training. With this approach, maneuverability and decision-making processes are developed for Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy students through role-playing, case studies, dilemma games, witness accounts, brainstorming and coaches’ questions. Today, many schools are set on traditional teaching to the test or promoting rote memorization.

Mercedes-Benz is part of a growing movement towards placing a higher value on driver education in general. For the past year, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy has been working with the California State PTA and partnered with IMPACT Teen Drivers, including giving a grant to provide important safety workshops at over 20 Los Angeles area schools.

“We are leading a path to modify and update driver education to accommodate the incredible changes in the driving landscape that have transpired over the past six decades,” said Academy Director Carolyn Duchene. “Road conditions, technology, distractions, traffic and other externalities including a record number of drivers today along with road improvement projects require a totally new approach to ensure teens become safe and responsible drivers,” she continued.

The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy will offer a variety of programs for teens and new drivers at various stages of their learning process, taking full advantage of the Graduated Driver Licensing framework in California with a heavy focus on the importance of parental involvement, which leads to practice and positive reinforcement for success.

• The most comprehensive program for those at the beginning of their learning phase incorporates an engaging, on-line theory component interspersed with corresponding blocks of road application designed to better prepare new drivers with more critical thinking and road strategy.

• An on-road, behind-the-wheel program is available for those who already have their learner’s permit.

• Customized programs can also be provided to further refine driving skill sets for any age or level.

The MBDA operations and training center, which is in the final stages of the build out, is strategically located with access to the Los Angeles Metro area and close proximity to several premier shopping centers. “We chose the location for the first U.S. Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy to meet the needs of our students and their families – and that includes accessibility to many neighborhoods, close proximity to several major highways and shopping destinations for parent convenience,” Duchene said.

Mercedes-Benz plans to announce additional Driving Academy locations in the future and is engaged in active, ongoing recruitment for driving instructors. For more information on employment opportunities and enrollment, please visit www.mbdrivingacademy.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.

As confirmed by accident statistics, Mercedes drivers are involved in fewer accidents than drivers of cars made by other manufacturers. This is the result of the comprehensive safety philosophy at Mercedes-Benz. In addition to many years of accident research and the democratisation of safety innovations across all model series, a diverse range of driving safety training events is offered. Participants become more aware of typical danger situations and practise appropriate responses.

Safety pioneer Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition of providing such training: as early as 1902, the sons of Gottlieb Daimler were conducting driving lessons at the works of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. Mercedes-AMG also holds driving training courses and events tailored to individual requirements to help its customers to achieve flawless car control (see page 6 onwards). Driving safety training for summer 2011 is now getting underway through Mercedes-Benz Driving Events and the AMG Driving Academy.

A broad programme of on and off-road Mercedes-Benz driving events

Mercedes-Benz holds driving events at twelve venues and four off-road locations throughout Germany, meaning that no participant needs to travel far. “By providing courses almost nationwide and at reasonable prices, we are aiming at as many car drivers as possible. The half-day compact training event for 18 to 25-year olds, for example, costs just 89 euros,” says Ulrich Mellinghoff, Head of Mercedes Safety Development. “Ultimately all road users benefit from the confident car control practised during training, not just Mercedes drivers. Any accident is one accident too many.”

The target group for the various courses is correspondingly diverse, ranging from learner drivers to experienced professionals, from sales training to events for professional drivers and chauffeurs. The sole requirement is that the driver must hold a class 3/class B driver’s licence. Mercedes-Benz provides the vehicles used in driving training. “This offers several advantages,” explains Wolfgang Müller, Chief Instructor Mercedes-Benz Driving Events. “Participants do not need to worry about their own vehicles or tyre wear and our instructors know the cars intimately.” What is more, this gives trainers the opportunity to demonstrate to participants how modern assistance systems work. Because it plays a pioneering role in safety, Mercedes-Benz offers technologies that are not available in other vehicles – or at least not yet.

Another factor is that, due to the range of performance, exercises can be completed in a higher speed range. “This means exercises are conducted at more realistic speeds,” adds Müller. For example, braking exercises take place from 80 km/h at all levels of training. The fleet of cars extends from the A‑Class to the S-Class and, for off-road training, includes the entire range of Mercedes-Benz SUV models and off-roaders.

Before heading up driving training at Mercedes-Benz, Wolfgang Müller was a successful rally driver for ten years. He is an experienced and skilled instructor, like all his colleagues on the driving safety training team in line with the high expectations that Mercedes-Benz has of staff. Using the same pool of approximately 60 trainers ensures that all Mercedes driving training sessions in Germany meet a high standard of quality, irrespective of the event venue. Müller’s job includes harmonising this standard of quality at international level to achieve global consistency with regard to the skill levels described below, for example.

Here is an overview of the various driving safety training courses and driving events being held by Mercedes-Benz in summer 2011:

Compact training: On this half-day course, participants find out how an accident can be prevented effectively. Exercises include full brake application combined with an evasive manoeuvre, and a slalom course. Compact training is also offered as a special training event for 18 to 25-year olds.

Basic training: As part of this one-day event, the instructors demonstrate how danger situations can be dealt with safely and confidently with support from active control systems. In demanding exercises, such as taking evasive action without braking from 80 km/h, emergency braking or correcting skidding vehicles, participants simulate accident situations and learn strategies for emerging unscathed.

Advanced training: This one-day training course widens the range of solutions for dealing with hazardous situations at higher speeds. Participants practise emergency braking at 100 km/h without knowing the direction in which to take evasive action beforehand, or controlling a tail-skid on a wet bend.

Enhanced training: Here hazardous situations are rehearsed at motorway speed. For example, participants learn how to correct their vehicle following an emergency lane change at 130 km/h. In addition, challenging drift exercises are completed on famous race tracks like Sachsenring. The enhanced training course lasts two days.

Eco training: During this half-day event, attendees take part in simple practical and theoretical exercises to learn how to reduce fuel consumption by handling their car more efficiently. On average, those who complete the eco training course subsequently use 15 percent less fuel.

Pro driver training: The programme for this two-day event includes performing an evasive manoeuvre at 130 km/h in a predefined direction through a set of traffic lights, emergency braking scenarios and correcting a tail-skidding vehicle at motorway speed, for example. Driving practice is complemented by theoretical exercises tailored to the specific profession with trainers who also instruct police task forces.

Enhanced pro driver training: Building on the pro driver training course, here the focus is on training for complex, stressful situations and additional tasks associated with a specific profession, with participants receiving individual coaching. They drive a handling course at night and take part in a convoy. Individual strengths and weaknesses are psychologically evaluated for everyday professional life (two-day event).

Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience: This event immerses participants in the world of Mercedes-Benz for two full days. A visit to the wind tunnel and test track at the plant in Untertürkheim is followed by a voyage of discovery around the Mercedes-Benz Museum and an evening meal together. On the second day, it is onto the training circuit with the opportunity to put the current model range, including the CLS and SLK, through its paces in slaloming, braking and evasive manoeuvres.

On and off-road training: This two-day event is aimed especially at newcomers and SUV drivers. The programme covers driving safety first: fast lane changing, slaloming, one-sided braking and ABS as an issue. The second part of the training course takes place on an off-road circuit. Safe ways to handle axial twist situations, driving at an angle and steep ascents and descents are practised.

Off-road training: After an introduction to the theory, instructors accompany participants on a challenging off-road circuit. They will master steep downhill gradients and adventurously driving at an angle. At the same time, participants will learn to assess the way they themselves and their vehicle respond more effectively so that they can reach their destination safely given even the toughest terrain. Mercedes-Benz offers one and two-day courses at different levels in the form of basic, advanced, exclusive and pro off-road training.

Off-road journeys: Fly&Drive Ireland, a magical Italian journey and an epic expedition halfway around the world are just some of the trips on offer. An amazing five-week trip from Germany to India goes via Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.

Further information is available at www.mercedes-benz.de/driving-events and www.offroad.mercedes-benz.de

Back in March, we brought you news the MBUSA was planning a Driving Academy for our teenage drivers, and now we have confirmation and more information on Mercedes-Benz USA’s plan.  Mercedes-Benz USA announced last week that the company’s first Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy will open in Los Angeles in October 2011.  It will offer a fully integrated driver’s education program and school that incorporates online, classroom and behind-the-wheel training for Los Angeles area teens.

The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is unveiling details for its teen driving school at the annual California State PTA Convention, where approximately 2,500 California PTA members are attending from April 28 – May 1, 2011 in Long Beach, CA.

Mercedes-Benz is appointing Carolyn Duchene as Director for the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, and she will be responsible for the launch and management of daily operations. A Mercedes-Benz USA employee since 1994, Duchene has held several positions in the areas of marketing, digital media, training and education, and customer service.

“In addition to a unique educational approach, our highly qualified staff will be a key differentiator for the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy. We are recruiting and hiring the best talent for all areas of operation,” said Duchene. “The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy will connect with students and parents using a personalized, customer-centric approach that truly creates a unique offering among driver’s education services for new teen drivers.”

In preparation for its fall launch, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is actively recruiting uniquely qualified driving instructors, who will be groomed to deliver the Academy’s research-based program in a highly effective coaching style. The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy instructors are going to be Mercedes-Benz employees and eligible to receive Mercedes-Benz USA benefit packages.

Several auto manufacturers and third-party organizations are currently offering teen driving programs which primarily focus on crash avoidance and defensive driving exercises. However, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy aims to be the only car manufacturer to offer a California DMV-approved program, fully integrated with the Graduated Driver Licensing framework. The goal of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is to prepare students for today’s driving environment by going beyond basic car control skills and rote learning of traffic rules.

The core program utilizes multiple teaching techniques and delivery methods ranging from online learning to interactive classroom sessions and behind-the-wheel training. The program will incorporate approaches such as digital animation to visualize road hazards in an online program, problem-solving exercises in the classroom, and hands-on experience of risky situations and in-car coaching techniques based on questioning rather than instruction. This approach is combined with consistent feedback from driving coaches to parents, which aims to assist them in planning their supervised driving practice. The overall collective curriculum aims to benefit and appeal to the vast spectrum of learning-styles which will ensure greater engagement and absorption of skills and knowledge.

A fully integrated California-focused curriculum will take a student from their instruction permit license stage through their provisional license. Other offerings include an on-road only curriculum for those who have chosen to complete their driver education requirement through other means, and a tailored program that takes into account individual driver’s needs to further develop and improve driving skills.

“Vehicles, highways, and the driving environment have changed dramatically over the past 60 years, however driver education remains relatively unchanged in the U.S.,” said Alexander Hobbach, Senior Manager of Business Innovation at Daimler AG. “Mercedes-Benz feels there is opportunity to better prepare teens for today’s driving conditions, and while our offering will have premium pricing over existing schools, we are dedicated to delivering significant value based on unique coaching methods and curriculum that is aimed at teaching new teens how to drive safely.”

The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is working with several advisors in the finalization of its proprietary curriculum including Daniel R. Mayhew, Senior Vice President of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF); Allan Williams, Ph.D., former Chief Scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); and Bill Combs, Executive Director of the Driver Education and Training Administrators and former Director of Communications at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“A teenager’s ability to drive safely should be one of the most important priorities for parents and it is extremely imperative that parents take a very active part in this process from researching driving schools to following through on supervised driving,” said Mayhew.

Beyond curriculum development that sets new industry standards, The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is building on strategic partnerships in an effort to raise awareness about teen driver safety and to also engage educators and parents to ultimately combat the leading cause of deaths among teens, which is motor vehicle crashes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, in conjunction with Impact Teen Drivers, will be delivering a public service outreach program through 2-hour parent/teen workshops, delivered in local Los Angeles- area high schools. These workshops will raise awareness on the importance of teaching teens the proper way to drive. Through interactive work groups, parents and their children will discuss the responsibility they have to each other when it comes to driver education while acknowledging that driving is an important part of teenager’s life that leads to more freedom and independence. With the help of the California PTA, approximately twenty schools will be identified to host the workshops beginning late summer.

“The opportunity to have Mercedes-Benz step-up to work with Impact Teen Drivers and law enforcement and education partners to offer driver safety seminars at no cost to Los Angeles-area schools is commendable,” said Kelly Browning, PhD, executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. “It is crucial that we educate teens and empower them to promote the safe driving message in order to have a fundamental and sustained behavior shift. This isn’t about bad kids doing bad things, but good kids making poor choices. One poor choice can alter or end their lives and the lives of those they care about.”

Impact Teen Drivers, Inc., which was founded by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the California Teachers Association, and California Casualty, provides education to teens and parents regarding the dangers of reckless and distracted driving through breakthrough campaigns delivered online and in schools.

Committed to raising the level of driver education and increasing road safety, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy continues Mercedes-Benz long-standing corporate dedication to driver safety. For continuous updates before the October 2011 opening and employment opportunities, please visit mbdrivingacademy.com for information.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death among teens in the United States. While technology is no doubt increasing the number of accidents among teens and across the board, lack of driving experience and training is unquestionably the leading factor. For these reasons, Mercedes-Benz USA is planning to offer driver’s education at the end of 2011. MBUSA aims to teach our teenagers the skills and competencies for safe and enjoyable driving.

At the center of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is an innovative driver’s education approach that reflects the very best teaching methods from around the world. MBUSA is currently finalizing and tailoring these methods to specifically meet the environment and needs in the United States.

The research-based approach is designed to improve the effectiveness of time spent in the classroom, online, and behind-the-wheel. The goal of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is to prepare students for today’s driving environment by going beyond basic car control skills and rote learning of traffic rules.

Research clearly identifies that the standard U.S. formula of 30-hour in-class education followed sequentially by 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training cannot reasonably be expected to transform a non-driver into a safe driver1.

“Despite the dramatic changes in vehicles, highways, and the driving environment over the past 60 years, driver education remains relatively unchanged in the U.S.,” said Alexander Hobbach, Senior Manager, Daimler AG. “The skills required to simply get a license do not fully prepare young drivers to meet the demands of the road. Mercedes-Benz recognizes this issue and as a result is creating an educational program for the U.S. that is based on the best teaching methods and tools available.”

Mercedes-Benz has been working with international driver education experts to develop an innovative curriculum-based program. A Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy in the U.K. was launched for the first time in 2009 based on this curriculum and since then 4,500 students have enrolled in the program. Amongst those who already obtained their driver’s license and participated in the program, had a first-time pass rate of 79 percent – nearly double the U.K. national average of 43 percent.

Mercedes-Benz is combining insights and key elements of the U.K. curriculum and delivery methods with U.S. DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) requirements to develop the integrated program that is going to be offered at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy in the U.S. later this year. Mercedes-Benz has already met with DMV representatives to discuss the development of an integrated curriculum that fulfills all state requirements, which positions the Company as the first and only auto manufacturer to offer a complete, state-certified driving school in the U.S.

“As a company, we have a long history and continuous efforts to improve vehicle safety so the Driving Academy is a natural extension of Mercedes-Benz desire to achieve accident-free driving,” said Hobbach. “With only 10 percent of crashes being a result of technical failure and 90 percent due to human error, Mercedes-Benz sees an opportunity to actively improve drivers’ skills, focusing first on novice drivers, who are most at risk on U.S. roads.”

It is well known that there is a disproportionately high driving incident rate among teen novice drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. In fact, teens aged 16-19 are four times more likely to crash than adults. While technology has led to more driver distractions, especially for teens, driver’s education is being offered in fewer and fewer high schools in the U.S. That is why many organizations and experts are seeking ways of improving driver’s education.

“Driving is one of the most important skills that a teen can learn, and it is extremely important that parents do their research before sending their child to a driving school,” said Daniel R. Mayhew, Senior Vice President, Traffic Injury Research Foundation. “Getting parents and teens working together is one crucial step among many that can better prepare beginner drivers.”

Due to the alarming rate of teen deaths caused by motor vehicle collisions, national and state legislators, regulators, law enforcement, public agencies and other safety advocates have worked hard over recent decades to find ways to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury crashes on our highways for decades. In fact, Mercedes-Benz is also finalizing plans to work with leading driver safety advocacy organizations and law enforcement to create a public service outreach program that emphasizes safe driving and driver’s education.

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy’s approach also seeks to achieve greater compliance with policies that have successfully been implemented to increase driver’s safety such as the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) rules. The GDL framework provides for compulsory driver’s education, combining classroom or online learning, on-road training, mandatory supervised practice, and restricted driving privileges once a novice driver starts driving solo. By using an integrated program to reinforce learning points throughout the learner driver period, as well as involving parents in the process, the students can realize greater benefits of GDL.

Mercedes-AMG is extending its portfolio: the AMG Driving Academy will now also offer tailor-made racetrack training for its Chinese sports car fans. The kick-off event will be held from 19 to 24 November 2010 on the Shanghai International Circuit. Around 150 AMG customers and enthusiasts have already signed up for the Asia premiere.

One-and-a-half-day BASIC training courses will be held from 19 to 22 November 2010. Participants will assimilate in professional surroundings the know-how required for their first laps at the limit. The two-and-a-half-day ADVANCED training course will start straight afterwards from 22 to 24 November 2010; this course focuses on honing driving skills and promoting a sporty driving style – key areas covered include cornering, the ideal line as well as the braking point. An SLS AMG, SL 63 AMG, a C 63 AMG with Performance Package Plus and an SLK 55 AMG will be on the starting line as training vehicles. Three racetrack training courses are initially planned in China for 2011, with participants given the opportunity to take an SLS AMG or C 63 AMG for a spin.

“China is also a fast-growing market for AMG. And not only are our AMG high-performance vehicles in ever greater demand, but our Chinese customers are also increasingly asking for racetrack training courses. I am proud that we can now also offer Chinese AMG fans a unique product and brand experience with the AMG Driving Academy”, says Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Success story: AMG Driving Academy

The AMG Driving Academy is a success story. Since it was set up at the start of 2007, over 12,000 customers have taken part in the different events – with numbers growing all the time. In addition to the varied programmes on European racetracks, US customers have also been able to take part in exhilarating racetrack training courses since the end of 2009, for example on the Laguna Seca Raceway in California and in Road Atlanta in Georgia. Winter Sporting in Lapland, Sweden, with participants able to put the AMG high-performance vehicles with spiked tyres through their paces on a cordoned-off frozen ice lake, is a particular highlight.

The varied line-up of the AMG Driving Academy consists of five levels: EMOTION, BASIC, ADVANCED, PRO and MASTERS. These offer everything from lifestyle-oriented events and courses which take the participants through their first experience of driving at the limit, all the way to intensive racetrack training with a competitive edge. The level of difficulty is tailored to the participants’ individual requirements. In the AMG MASTERS Sports Trophy, participants who are resident in Germany have the opportunity to acquire a national Level A DMSB (German Motor Sport Federation) driver’s licence. Prices for the AMG Driving Academy programmes start from as little as 290 euros.

Successful racing drivers as high-profile instructors

The AMG Driving Academy employs a total of 21 instructors. The permanent team around chief instructor Reinhold Renger (42) includes high-profile racing drivers: Bernd Schneider (46) with five DTM Championships under his belt, plus an ITC and FIA GT Championship title for good measure, ranks as one of Germany’s most successful racing drivers. At present, Schneider is heavily involved in the development and testing programmes for the new SLS AMG GT3 – partnered by his instructor colleague Thomas Jäger (33), 2009 Champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland and long-time DTM driver for Mercedes-Benz.

Bernd Mayländer (39) drove for Mercedes-Benz for eight years in the DTM and FIA GT Championships, and has been the permanent driver in the Official F1™ Safety Car since 2000 – in his SLS AMG he is helping to ensure the best possible driver safety throughout this year’s Formula 1 season. Susie Stoddart (27, GB) joined the team of experienced instructors in 2009. The Scottish DTM driver is the first woman to score points in the “new” DTM.

Mercedes-AMG helps its customers to achieve flawless car control by offering Driver Training courses and events tailored to individual requirements. Here the focus is on driving pleasure, driving safety and passion, complemented by a top-quality support program including typical local culinary delicacies and professional customer care. The AMG Driving Academy program covers five skill levels (EMOTION, BASIC, ADVANCED, PRO and MASTERS) and offers the perfect event for any requirements. This may be anything from lifestyle-oriented events (EMOTION), and courses which take the participants through their first experience of driving at the limit (BASIC) on exclusive test and race circuits, to intensive race circuit training with data recording and individual coaching (ADVANCED, PRO, MASTERS), or pure driving pleasure on ice and snow in Swedish Lapland.

Spa-Francorchamps, the North Loop of the Nürburgring and Hockenheim are the legendary race circuits where licensed instructors with extensive motor racing experience pass on their expertise to the AMG drivers. Their aim is to set the pulse of each participant racing purely through the force of driving pleasure.

An overview of all of the events offered by the AMG Driving Academy:

EMOTION: these lifestyle-oriented events send a maximum of 32 participants off for exquisite gala menus on interesting routes through captivating scenery in cars provided by AMG. The AMG community sees the participants enjoy exciting events in very special locations. A tour of the AMG plant in Affalterbach at the outset, meanwhile, also offers them some exclusive insights. Lasting between one and three days, the events treat participants to top-class sporting events such as a DTM racing weekend or cultural highlights like the Bregenz Festival. Prices start from 290 euros.

BASIC: the focus of this training course is on ensuring safe and confident reactions behind the wheel. In a professional environment the participants develop the expertise to tackle their first few laps of driving at the limit, with a detailed theory-based introduction unit providing the basis. The instructors not only highlight the fundamentals of driving physics, but also look at seating position, steering wheel control, the correct line of sight and safety rules. The practical section gives the participants the chance to assess and enhance their driving skills in their own AMG cars or in models provided by AMG, and to explore the capabilities of the various driver assistance systems. This training course also focuses on understeer and oversteer, slalom and lane change manoeuvres, as well as braking and evasive manoeuvres around obstacles appearing suddenly. A team of mechanics from AMG is permanently on hand to assist.

BASIC Training courses take place on the German Hockenheimring, the Nürburgring Grand Prix race circuits and at the LuK Driving Center in Baden-Baden – thus ensuring total driving pleasure. The maximum group size is ten, with two participants sharing each car provided by AMG. One instructor is assigned to each of the maximum of five groups. As a highlight to round off the event, each participant has the opportunity to experience performance in its purest form from the passenger seat of a specially prepared C 63 AMG Performance Car or the SLS AMG Race Taxi, driven by one of the professional AMG instructors. Prices start from 990 euros.

ADVANCED: the second stage of AMG Training concentrates on developing driving skills and sporty driving. In addition to the fundamentals of driving physics, the theory introduction primarily covers cornering technique, the ideal line and braking points. However, the functioning of the various driver assistance systems, safety rules and behaviour required to ensure safety during the training also play a central role in this unit. The practical section of the course on the race circuit gives the participants the chance to put into practice what they have learned so far. Section training 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. The ADVANCED Training courses generally use cars provided by AMG, so the participants have the opportunity to put various models from the current AMG range through their paces.

Professional data recording helps the drivers to analyse their personal driving style, allowing them to identify mistakes and put instructions into practice. The two-and-a-half day ADVANCED training courses take place at race circuits known around the world, such as Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Imola (Italy), Hockenheimring (Germany), Le Castellet (France) and Brno (Czech Republic). The AMG team of mechanics are on hand to answer all technical questions about the vehicles. ADVANCED training courses can accommodate a maximum of five groups, each of eight participants. 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 AMG Race Taxi. Prices start from 2590 euros.

PRO: this three-day event is held on the legendary North Loop of the Nürburgring (Germany) or in Le Castellet – on the race track in the south of France training is provided exclusively in the SLS AMG. Completion of the AMG BASIC Training, AMG ADVANCED Training or comparable driver training course is required to participate in the PRO Training. The AMG instructors take the participants through the particular characteristics of the circuits and give them a run-down of the training schedule, fitness issues and the health-related aspects of safe driving. A warm-up serves as a refresher of the fundamentals of driving dynamics and assists with the practical preparation of the participants.

After exploring the circuit one section at a time, the eight groups of eight participants drive around behind the guiding instructor. A co-instructor follows behind each of the groups. The drivers are then left to drive freely, with the option of being accompanied by an instructor in the passenger seat. All participants benefit from the knowledge of the experts in sports medicine accompanying the course and, if desired, the participants’ heart rates are recorded and evaluated through each day. Each morning sees the participants take part in “Driver Fitness”, a short training programme conducted by the sports physiologist.

In addition, the participants can have a data recording device fitted in the car.

The values recorded go beyond longitudinal and lateral acceleration, for example, to include data on personal driving style, which is then evaluated individually by an expert. The concluding AMG Competition in the form of a regularity test underlines the sporting character of the training. At the end of the event the participants can enjoy a passenger’s-eye experience of the circuit in the AMG Race Taxi. AMG mechanics and the team from Continental – an AMG Driving Academy technology partner – provide the participants with technical support throughout the event. Prices start from 2440 euros.

MASTERS Sports Trophy: the highest level of the AMG Driving Academy teaches the participants how to analyse the characteristics of a circuit and car flawlessly. Special assessment tests carried out according to the specially developed MASTERS regulations help each participant to explore his or her own potential and allow intensive competition with like-minded colleagues. A maximum of 24 drivers at each of the three events collect points for the overall classification. Completion of the AMG ADVANCED Training, AMG PRO Training or comparable driver training course is required to participate in the AMG MASTERS Sports Trophy. The event follows a similar pattern to a professional race series from the technical inspection of the cars to the podium ceremony. Plus, participants who are resident in Germany also have the chance to acquire a national Level A DMSB (German Motor Sport Federation) driver’s licence.

The two-and-a-half and five day MASTERS Sports Trophy is taking place in Le Castellet (France) and Brno (Czech Republic) in 2010, and in Arjeplog (Sweden) in 2011. Except for in Sweden, participants drive their own AMG cars, although the SLS AMG and SLK 55 AMG with the AMG Performance package are also available to hire. All participants’ cars are fitted with a data recording system. A data analysis expert and sports medicine input are both compulsory elements of the course, as is support from the AMG mechanics and also tyre experts from Continental.

Also making up part of the programme are the “Driver Fitness” training unit and the extensive theory section, sports medicine input, driver discussions and race circuit analysis. Prices start from 3890 euros.

Winter driving pleasure in Swedish Lapland

A very special experience is offered by the AMG Winter Sporting ADVANCED event, which takes place in Arjeplog, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle. Participants drive

the AMG high-performance cars provided exclusively on a closed-off ice surface. All the cars are fitted with special spike tyres, which ensure a precisely defined level of grip. Various handling courses, curves with different radii and a perfectly prepared vehicle dynamics area guarantee maximum driving enjoyment and an ongoing improvement in personal driving skills. A wide-ranging support programme, characterised by a typical local atmosphere and snowmobile tours, rounds off the four- and five day events in Swedish Lapland. Also included is a ride in the AMG Ice Taxi, a specially prepared AMG car fitted with the special spike tyres used by FIA WRC rally cars.

An exclusive experience is guaranteed courtesy of the AMG Lodge nestled in the breathtaking landscape of Swedish Lapland. Opened in 2009, the AMG-owned hotel on Mount Galtis near Arjeplog provides a fabulous view over the forests and lakes of the region. The exclusive rooms, excellent restaurant and large spa area including swimming pool and fitness studio guarantee a thoroughly pleasant stay. This event is priced at 3590 euros.

The AMG Winter Sporting PRO and AMG Winter Sporting MASTERS events provide an even more intense experience. The five-day AMG Winter Sporting PRO programme is a professional training course with a reduced number of participants, personal coaching and data recording. The aim here is to achieve flawless car control on ice and snow. The chance to drive the AMG Ice Taxi is a highlight of the event for every participant. The AMG Winter Sporting MASTERS event also lasts five days and features a competitive element. Participants enjoy exclusive use of one of the AMG high-performance cars which are made available. The intensive training programme with data recording is combined with two days of qualifying races. Each of these events is priced at 4950 euros.

Think back to a happier time.  Think back to a time when you got excited about something to the point that nothing else mattered.  I remember as a six-year old, my first time going to Disney World.  It was magical.  Mickey, the rides, Epcott – the whole thing put me into an utter state of euphoria.  At that moment, it didn’t matter what else was happening in the world.  War.  Famine.  A nuclear holocaust.  I didn’t even care that I managed to escape the tight clutches of my parents.  I was invincible, and the only thing that mattered was taking in as much of this incredible place as I possibly could.

The older you get, these magical times become more and more infrequent.  Things that used to excite you become commonplace.  Take the first time you drove, for example.  Your heart was pounding.  Your palms were sweaty.  Their was an underlying nervousness, but it was quelled by the rush of adrenaline you felt as you pressed the gas pedal for the first time.  Now, most driving has become ordinary.  You go to work, you run errands, you take your kids to school, but that surge of adrenaline that once existed is nowhere to be found.

But there’s hope.  There is a way that  you can rekindle that passion you once felt, not only as a driver, but as a kid, completely infatuated with the singular task in front you.  It’s called the Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy, and if you’ve never experienced it in person, I’m going to tell you why you should.  It’s an experience that’s unlike any other, and one that absolutely must be experienced to be believed.

Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy Overview

Before I tell you about the Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy PRO Training, let me give you a quick overview of the Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy as whole.  In the U.S., starting this year, 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.

I was at Road Atlanta and attended the AMG Driving Academy’s PRO event, and I’ve got a detailed look at what’s in store for you, should you decide to attend.  But regardless of the class you’re interested in, whether BASIC, ADVANCED or PRO, read on, as my time in the PRO training is still going to give you a lovely taste of all three programs.  If you’re short on time and want the five second summary, I’ll make it simple for you:  if you’re considering any of three, stop deliberating and just go.  You’ll have a fantastic time, you’ll meet a lot of terrific people, and you’ll learn more than you ever thought you could about driving.  Easy enough, right?  Now, let’s get to what makes the AMG Driving Academy so great.

Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy PRO Training:  Day One

Starting day one, I felt a little like I did my first day of high school.  It was my first time attending an AMG Driving Academy – I had no idea what lie in store, nor did I know any of the other attendees – so there was a good dose of excitement paired with a bit of uneasiness of the unknown.  Arriving at Road Atlanta for the first time did little to calm my nerves.  As you approach the AMG shelter that’s to be your home base for the next 3 days, you must first pass turns 11 and 12 – a sweeping set of high speed downhill turns that make you instantly aware of the rather daunting elevation changes of the track.  Questions of whether I should really be entrusted to pilot the nearly $200,000 SLS AMG around such turns briefly pop into my head, but as I near AMG’s mobile home, any fears are dissipated, replaced by the sheer awe of seeing the fleet of AMG vehicles that will be at my disposal for the next three days.  Parked neatly outside the AMG building is a stable of AMG models – the SLK55 AMG, the C63 AMG, the E63 AMG,  the CLK63 AMG Black Series, the SL63 AMG and the SLS AMG – roughly eight of each.  It’s a beautiful sight, and the reality of what I’m about to do has finally become palpable.

After a quick check-in, I begin meeting other drivers (there’s a little more than 30 total), and immediately I felt a certain sense of camaraderie –  not as Mercedes owners, but rather as a group of individuals that love driving.  The ages are varied; the home states range from as close as Georgia to as far as California and Rhode Island; but all share a common passion for automobiles.  Almost everyone I talk to has attended numerous AMG driving events in the past, and all are of the same consensus that as far as driving schools are concerned, the AMG Driving Academy has no equal.  As to what level that meant my skill set would be at when I left the AMG Driving Academy, I didn’t know; but if I had half as much fun as those that had attended an AMG event in the past said I would, I knew that at the very least, I was in for one hell of a time.

Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

Following the inaugural meet-and-greet, the affable Don Harple, lead instructor of the U.S. Driving Academy, took the stage and gave us an overview of the program we were about to undertake, the track, basic driving principles, and the instructors that would be leading us for the next three days.  It was more or less an abbreviated refresher course of what was learned in the BASIC and ADVANCED programs, and as I was about to learn, it was the first of many building blocks that would eventually form the foundation for open lapping on the third day.  Once we had received adequate in-classroom training, myself and the participants were split up into four teams and assigned to one of four driving modules.  On the way out, Don recommended a Dramamine patch for those that tend to suffer motion sickness.  I passed, but trust me, when you attend, if you have any doubts, take one.  It’s best to err on the side of caution.

Dramamine patches in place, I and the other participants met our instructors for the first time, and each team was assigned vehicles based on their specific driving module.  If you’ve never attended an AMG Driving Academy and are unfamiliar with driving modules, they’re basically a series of focused driving exercises that teach you the finer points of vehicle dynamics and driving techniques.  They’re utilized in all three programs – BASIC, ADVANCED and PRO – and they serve as real world applications of the building blocks taught in the in-classroom training.

My team, the yellow team, was first assigned to the skid pad – a driving module conducted in the SL63 AMG.  If you’ve ever seen drifting, you already know the drill.  A circular portion of the track is wetted down, and you drift in a broad circle.  It’s meant to teach you the basics of understeer and oversteer, throttle manipulation, and how to transfer weight off the rear axel.  Easy enough I thought.  Myself and each of the drivers each picked a partner, and I teamed up with an AMG Driving Academy vet by the name of Ed.  He’s attended numerous driving programs; he drives a RENNTech-tuned SL55 AMG and a Ford GT (among others); and he’s brought his own driving helmet.  If anyone knew what they were doing, it was Ed.  Round 1, I rode shotgun (remember, this is my first AMG Academy), so I figured it was best to get as much extra instruction as I could.  We were last in line, so there were 3 cars in front of us – then we hit the skid pad.  And just like that, in the course of about 3 seconds, I understood why were here.  Ed kicked it into second, hit the accelerator, and feelings reminiscent of your favorite amusement ride instantly encompass you.  You feel your pulse quicken, you feel your insides churning, and you feel a completely different connection to the vehicle than you ever have in the past.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Following multiple runs on the skid pad, Ed and I swapped, and it was my turn to apply that which I just witnessed to the track.  Adrenaline still surging, my first run began with me applying too much power, resulting in the back end kicking out past the point of no return.  I regained my composure, remembered how much power I had at my disposal and hit the skid pad again, this time keeping the SL under control for what seemed like forever (in reality, I have no idea how much of the skid pad I made it around).  My run ended when I hit an extra slick portion of the skid pad, and the back end kicked out for a second time.  The problem was, I didn’t hit the brakes quick enough, so the car stalled.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but when I restarted the car, traction control defaulted back to its original state of being on.  My next runs all resulted in the back end staying firmly planted (thanks to traction control), and by the time I realized the problem, my runs were over.  But as frustrating as the skid pad was, it showed me one of the many key traits of the AMG Driving Academy – it’s incredibly addicting.  I’m still pissed at my performance on the skid pad, so much so that I want to go back to another one, just for a second round on the skid pad alone.  Almost every time I drove was like that – I wanted just a little more time in the car, because I knew could improve a little more.

SLS AMG at Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

After the session on the skid pad, the next module was autocross – an event that’s basically driving as fast as you can around a miniature race track (used for karting).  It’s purpose is to teach you how to read race lines, when to brake, when to accelerate, etc., and to make it happen, we used the incredibly fun C63 AMG’s.  If you’ve never been on an autocross course, it’s a great way to get acclimated to tossing a car around.  There’s nothing to hit, other than some cones, and you have some freedom to push the limits of the car.  Screw up, and you put a couple wheels on the grass, learn from your mistakes, and move on.  And although it doesn’t look fast, inside the car, it feels fast.  Watching the speedometer, it’s amazing how much faster it feels on the course.  50 on an open road is nothing – 50 on the back straightaway of the autocross track feels much faster.  There’s not much to say in terms of my performance, as our first time on the autocross course wasn’t timed.  But after a few times around, I started getting acclimated to the car and how far I could push it, and by the end, I felt like I was putting in a decent time.

For our third driving module, it was on to focused training for turns 10 A and B – a difficult set of turns you approach coming off the fastest portion of the track.  They’re basically a pair of 90 degree turns in rapid succession, first to the left, then to the right, and they’re integral to mastering the track.  Because of their difficulty, the instructors used them to teach a few different aspects of driving, one of which was learning braking zones.  Several markers were set showing the distance to turn 10 A and the appropriate line, and your job was to brake at a specific marker and follow the line laid out for you.  Straightforward, yes, but adding to its appeal, we performed the drill in the SLS AMG.  I’m not here to review cars –I’ll save those for separate articles – but I have to tell you, the SLS AMG is absolutely incredible.  If you have $190,000 sitting around, you won’t be disappointed.  Vehicle adoration aside, I took my turn in the SLS AMG and went to work.  The drill began at the top of the hill that leads down to turn 10, and my job was to accelerate as fast as possible to the marker just before turn 10, and hit the brakes as hard as I could while following the line laid out in cones.  And that’s exactly what I did.  I hit the gas; I felt my organs shift rearward as my body was propelled back into my seat; and before I knew it, it was time to brake.  And let me tell you, when you’re not acclimated to driving on a track, hitting the brakes at 80+ miles an hour – especially brakes as good as those found on the SLS AMG – is a harrowing experience.  It’s incredible how much stopping power is at your disposal.  My organs that were just seconds before pinned to the back of the seat had now shifted frontward, held in place only by the grace of the seat belt.  If you think driving on a track isn’t physically demanding, you’re dead wrong.  Race car drivers are without question well-conditioned athletes.  As the exercise went on, we worked on maintaining more speed through the turn, and by the time the drill was completed, we’d learned the incredible stopping ability the SLS affords you; we learned when to brake; we learned the appropriate line to take; and in reality, we learned how not to kill ourselves on one of the most difficult portions of the track.

As the day was drawing to an end, we wrapped up our driving modules with a threshold braking exercise.  For this module, we each took turns piloting a fleet of E63 AMG’s.  The goal was to teach first the stopping power of the E63 AMG, and subsequently how under intense braking, the vehicle still remains controllable.  To carry out the exercise, round one involved accelerating to 60 in a straight line, then applying as much braking power as possible.  Round two involved accelerating as fast possible and braking at a set of cones; but due to the extra speed, you then had to add in a bit of maneuvering while the brakes were locked up to avoid the obstacle in front of you.  And round three mimicked round two, only the instructor told you over the radio at the last second which way to avoid the obstacle – left or right.  It was a fairly easy exercise, especially coming off the prior SLS training, but it was a good reinforcement that on the track, if you needed to lock the brakes up, the vehicle still remains controllable.

And just like that, day one of the AMG Driving Academy PRO Training was over.  We took a quick lap around the track following the instructor, and that night there was a reception dinner at the Chateau Elan (a beautiful hotel nearby that I’ll be reviewing shortly).  I won’t go into details about what I ate, but I will say that it was a great way to meet the other drivers, instructors and staff, and it reinforces the strong sense of community you’ll feel when attending.  The AMG Driving Academy is about driving, there’s no question, but coinciding with the driving, you’ll meet a terrific group of individuals and walk away with some fantastic friends.

Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy PRO Training:  Day Two

While day one was more a less a refresher course of the AMG Driving Academy’s BASIC program, day two accelerated things at a much more rapid pace.  As another driver who’s attended numerous AMG programs told me, it’s phenomenal how quickly the instructors manage to build your skills.  As he noted, it’s almost like squaring the difficulty level.  If you start at a 2, you move to a 4, then to a 16 – but you’re taught in a way that makes you comfortable and prepared to do so.

On tap for the day was another round of driving modules, albeit it significantly more advanced ones – portions are carried over from the ADVANCED program; portions are unique to PRO.  First up:  segment training.  Segment training is a teaching method carried over from the European AMG Driving Academies, and it centers around splitting the course into sections and learning the intricacies of each.  In our case, Road Atlanta was split into two parts:  from the start of “The Esses”  (the famous high speed bends that lead into turn 5) through the straight past turn eight; and secondly, the remainder, which covered turns 9 through 4.  I started the day with the first of the two track segments (The Esses through the straight), and I did so in the beautiful SLS AMG.  Seeing as how it was our first time to actually undertake portions of the track at high speeds, there was a definite level of excitement; but until we actually started, I didn’t realize exactly how well segment training would prepare you for open lapping.

Lead / Follow Exercise Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

Starting segment training, it’s basically a lead / follow exercise.  The instructor pilots a lead car, and the line of drivers follow in their SLS AMG’s.  But what makes segment training so beneficial is the instruction given.  As with all driving during the AMG Academy, the instructors communicate with you via the radio.  On day one, the instruction is relatively minimal, considering you already have a fairly good idea of what you’re doing, but during segment training, every element of the track is explained in real time.  The specific line to take, shift points, braking zones, attributes of the track – everything’s covered in precise detail.  And because the track is split into more manageable parts, it’s far easier to digest the wealth of information you’re being given.

Round one of the segment training is a moderately paced run, just getting used to the track and comfortable in the car.  Round 2 is a little quicker, with the instructor drilling into your head the vital info you need to know to navigate the track.   As the segment training continues, the instructor continually increases pace, and by the later runs, you’re running at a pace that’s maybe a 6 or a 7 out of 10 on the intensity scale.  For the ADVANCED programs, all training is done on this same lead / follow format.  In PRO training, however, this is the point where things differ.  On the final run of segment training, the first test to prepare you for open lapping is given:  the group is split, each starting every 20 seconds or so, giving you a free run through the segment.  Aiding in your instruction, cameras and data recorders monitor your segmented run, and this information is stored for later, when you review it with an instructor and compare it to their run.

Following the first segment driving module, the second module for the day was data analysis of the segmented run.  As already noted, data for the first segment was recorded during the final run, as was the same data for the instructor’s final run.  During data analysis, the two are compared back at the AMG building, and an instructor goes over the runs with you, mainly focusing on your line, braking and speed.  It’s a tremendous teaching aid, as it allows the instructors to provide a thorough analysis of the key aspects of your technique.  And because data is recorded in both graphical format and with an in-dash camera, you can match the graph with the view on the track at any given point, allowing you to see precisely your problematic areas and how to correct them.  It’s really one of the key attributes of the AMG Driving Academy – even though there’s not an instructor in the car with you, you receive a level of instruction equatable to if there was.  You’re constantly receiving instruction; you’re constantly learning; and by the end of the segment training, you feel completely comfortable navigating the track.

After data analysis and lunch in the AMG shelter, the third driving module for the day was the second round of segment training.  As with the first round, it was all about starting slow, getting used to the lines, and working your way up.  Instruction, as in the prior segment, was completely and utterly comprehensive, with numerous points on the track, braking points, the correct line, etc. all scrutinized.  Turns 11 and 12 are a high speed set of downhill bends, and the stretch in between them may be one of the hardest points on the track to maintain the correct line.  To better help us understand the specific portion of the track, the instructors gave us the opportunity to actually step out of the vehicles and survey the stretch on foot while explaining the physics behind it (they did so with several other key turns as well).  Ultimately, it made navigating the difficult portions of the track much easier, as it provided a uniquely clear view of exactly what we were dealing with.

Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

And finally, following the second round of segment training, the day wrapped up with another run on the autocross track – this time, in a fleet of SLK55 AMG’s equipped with lap time recorders.   Although for the most part I focused on the track, the times I looked I was putting in a time of about 18.5 seconds, whereas the instructors ran the same course in 17.9 seconds.  The funny thing is, the faster you attempt to go, the slower you actually go.  It’s all about staying calm and focusing on each minute point of your technique.  As the instructors said, when you race, you spend your career trying to gain that .6 seconds.  Anyone can go fast in a straight line, but add in the turns, and it’s a whole new ballgame.

Day two wrapped up with a bratfest in the AMG shelter; we all had a chance to chat about the day’s festivities; and more importantly, we were ready to turn PRO.  Open lapping commenced the next day, and we were finally prepared to make it happen.

Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy PRO Training:  Day Three

Day three arrived all too quickly, as there was an undeniable level of excitement to start open lapping mixed with the realization the AMG Driving Academy was coming to a close.  Starting the day off, we received a final round of instruction along with stern warnings to stay within your limits.  Being the first PRO event ever held in this country, this event was, in many ways, a test – a test to see whether the U.S. is ready for more intense driving programs.  I have no doubt there were certain feelings of tension among the staff, considering how much was riding on its success, but among the drivers, there was just a sense of eagerness to get on the track.  We were prepared beautifully for what were about to do, and considering we’d only been there for two days, I think it speaks volumes as to the greatness of the instructors and really, the program as a whole.

Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

Before open lapping commenced, a final round of high speed lead / follow laps got underway, after which all drivers assembled in the pits for final open lapping prep.  The same fleet of AMG models was on hand for the event, and open lapping was split up again by team, one driver per vehicle, with two teams taking the track at one time for roughly 15 minute intervals.  To ensure we acclimated ourselves to open lapping, rev limits were set initially, and incrementally increased over the open lapping runs.  And then, just like that, it was time.

Exiting the pits for the first time – you remember why you took three days from your busy schedule to come here.  You feel your adrenaline pumping, you feel your heart pounding, and that passion for driving is once again rekindled.  You know the track, you know the lines, and you go to work doing exactly what you’ve been taught.  The nervousness I felt the first time arriving at the track is a distant memory.  As the laps go on, you become more comfortable, you feel the car become an extension of yourself, and you go faster.  Then, as quickly as you start, you’re back in the pits, waiting for the next round of driving.

Aiding in the open lapping, data recorders and in-car cameras are in place, monitoring your line, speed, etc., just as they did in segment training.  After a few runs of open lapping, you then have the opportunity to review it with one of the instructors in the track-side, specially equipped Mercedes Sprinter, fine tuning details of your technique and addressing any problem areas on the track.  In addition, instructors are positioned at most of the key turns, taking notes on your driving and relaying that info back to the pits.  In other words, while it is open lapping, you continue to maintain that same superior level of instruction you’ve received throughout the program.

It’s an incredible experience, and one that upon witnessing it, clearly takes a tremendous amount of effort to pull off.  Instructors continually relay information to you; the team of mechanics is constantly checking everything, making sure each of the vehicles is running perfectly (and in humid Atlanta conditions, that’s not an easy feat); data is analyzed track-side, fine-tuning your runs.  You feel, quite literally, like you’re a race car driver, and to be honest, the AMG Driving Academy is about as close as you can get to being one (without actually being one).

Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Pro Road Atlanta

As the day wound down, the final runs were put in, leading up the grand finale of the PRO event:  timed lapping.  Your goal was to run three open laps, with the first lap being the benchmark, and your second two lap times being as close to the first lap as possible.  Whoever completed three laps with the smallest time deviation was the winner.  It wasn’t until the closing reception and award ceremony that we found out the winner, but needless to say, it wasn’t me.  It was, however, my first driving partner – AMG Driving Academy veteran Ed – with something like a few tenths of a second all that separated his three runs.  That’s pretty damn impressive, if I do say so myself.

Wrapping up the day, a timed autocross competition was held (I’m not one to brag, but my team won), and lastly, to remind us that although we may feel like race car drivers, we aren’t, taxi rides were given by the instructors, putting us back in our place and showing us how much better they really are.  The day ended with a closing reception in which awards for the timed laps and autocross competition were handed out, and after saying our final farewells, three days of remarkable driving came to an end.

Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy Closing Thoughts

If you’ve read this far, you should have a pretty clear idea that I’m an AMG Driving Academy believer.  It was, in no simpler terms, an incredible, incredible experience, and one that I would whole-heartedly recommend to anyone that even remotely enjoys driving.  The instructors are consummate professionals – they’re insanely talented; they’re completely approachable and willing to help you with any aspect of your driving; and they provide a tremendous amount of insight into the finer points of what you’re doing.  There’s absolutely nothing you can’t like about them.  The rest of the staff is superb; the mechanics do a simply beautiful job of keeping everything running right; and everything was carried out with incredible precision.  Most importantly, you learn more than you ever thought you could over the course of three days, and while you’re learning, you’re having an absolutely fantastic time.  It’s like you’re a kid all over again.

If you’re interested in attending the Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy for yourself, there’s a variety of BASIC and ADVANCED programs coming up starting at the end of this month and running through November, all of which take place at the beautiful Laguna Seca Raceway in California.  They’re the perfect preparation for the next PRO event coming up next year (date TBA), and they’ll give you a chance to experience one of the most well-known tracks in the country.  Pricing for the BASIC program is set at $1,795, and pricing for the advanced is set at $3,295.  Having attended, I can tell you without question the AMG Driving Academy is worth every penny – you won’t for a second regret it.  To learn more about specific dates or to make reservations, you can do so directly at the AMG Driving Academy website.

The Mercedes AMG Driving Academy kicking off in June is featuring the highly anticipated Gran Turismo® 5 game exclusively for the PlayStation® 3 (PS3™) system, enhancing the trackside experience for race enthusiasts driving several real 2011 SLS AMG supercars that are part of this year’s vehicle line-up during AMG Driving Academy sessions.

AMG and Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC teamed up to feature a Gran Turismo 5 SLS AMG gaming experience, created by Polyphony Digital, Inc., on racing sleds that incorporates the Nurburgring Nordschleife. In January 2010, the SLS AMG from Mercedes-Benz was given the honor of being the featured vehicle on the Gran Turismo 5 packaging cover. The game is expected to be available in stores this year. The Gran Turismo 5 racing sled experience is on hand throughout the AMG Academy schedule held at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

“The opportunity to compare the realistic Gran Turismo 5 Mercedes demo on the racing sled and then the actual SLS AMG on the track is one that most people will not experience in their lifetime,” said Greg Clark, product manager, exclusive vehicles for Mercedes-Benz USA. “The demo gives participants a chance to get a realistic feel for the car before they step into the SLS AMG.”

The AMG Driving Academy is specifically for driving enthusiasts, who want to personally experience the excitement of motorsports and the track capabilities of Mercedes-AMG vehicles including the all new 563 hp SLS AMG capable of 0-60 in 3.7 seconds.

In addition to the SLS AMG, program participants have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of several AMG models including the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, and SLK55 AMG. The program features custom-designed exercises to teach dynamic driving capabilities across two of the top tracks in the U.S:

Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA)

June 11-14 & 28-30, 2010

For more than 40 years, Road Atlanta is a destination location for top tier sports car and motorcycle racing. It has a reputation of a world class motorsports facility, rich in history and tradition. This 2.54-mile, 12-turn world class road course is one of the most technically challenging in the U.S.

Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA)

August 27-29, September 25-27, October 29-30 and November 12-14, 2010

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. The AMG Driving Academy Basic, Advanced and new Pro Level for 2010

• Basic ($1,795 per participant): Intense one-day track program focuses on performance driving dynamics. In the morning, participants learn the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises. Once participants perfect car control and handling, they progress in the afternoon to a set of high-speed exercises that make use of the entire track.
  • Road Atlanta: June 11 – 12
  • Laguna Seca Raceway: August 27-29, Sept. 25, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 12

• Advanced ($3,295 per participant): Two-day program picks up where Basic leaves off, providing advanced training and technical on-track instruction. Onboard diagnostics and data capture enable detailed computer analysis and evaluation. Advanced is offered to drivers who complete either Basic, AMG Challenge, European Driving Academy program or an equivalent course.
  • Road Atlanta: June 13-14, 2010
  • Laguna Seca Raceway: September 26-27 & November 13-14

• Pro ($3,995 per participant): The pinnacle of the AMG Driving Academy curriculum, Pro program offers increased instruction while challenging and improving capabilities and skills to a much greater degree. During the three day program, participants train on the legendary Road Atlanta circuit. As speeds increase and skills improve, open lapping provides the maximum challenge and thrill. With an intense curriculum, AMG experienced instructors prepare participants to confidently welcome the challenges of Road Atlanta.
  • Road Atlanta: June 28-30, 2010

All fees include a dinner reception and introductory briefing the evening before the program, track hospitality, AMG Driving Academy certificate of program completion and an AMG gift bag. Participants are responsible for travel and accommodations. Additional information and registration for the AMG Driving Academy is available at www.AMGacademy.com or by phone at 1-800-217-6916.

At selected events of the AMG Driving Academy, participants can experience two new Mercedes dream cars – the SLS AMG and the E 63 AMG. The programme of events of the AMG Driving Academy, which was founded in 2007, is divided into five different skill levels: EMOTION, BASIC, ADVANCED, PRO and MASTERS. The choice extends from lifestyle-oriented and also race training events at which participants take their first steps towards physical driving limits, right up to intensive race track training of a competitive nature. The various levels of difficulty are all tailor-made to the individual driving aspirations of the participants. The team of experienced AMG Driving Academy instructors includes the likes of former DTM, ITC and FIA-GT champion Bernd Schneider, as well as Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the Official F1™ Safety Car.

The SLS AMG and the E 63 AMG are called into action on occasions when the AMG Driving Academy provides all of the vehicles for the participants. For a number of specific events, at which customers normally take part in their own high-performance AMG cars – such as the AMG PRO Training, AMG PRO Training SLS AMG and the AMG MASTERS Sports Trophy – the SLS AMG is also available as a hire car.

During the events of the AMG Driving Academy, drivers and enthusiasts of AMG vehicles gradually learn to assess and master the physical limits of driving in complete safety, at legendary race tracks such as the North Loop of the Nürburgring or the Grand Prix circuit at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. In this way each of the participants automatically improves their active driving safety. Experienced motorsport drivers and licensed instructors impart their extensive

knowledge in a professional manner. One special event is the AMG Winter Sporting in Arjeplog (Sweden), close to the Arctic Circle: the AMG high-performance vehicles provided are driven exclusively on expanses of ice. All of the vehicles are equipped with special, spiked tyres that ensure a precisely defined level of grip. Prices for the AMG Driving Academy programmes start from just 290 euros.

In addition to the varied event programme which takes place on European race tracks, the AMG Driving Academy is also able to provide Amercian sports car fans with some tailor-made race track training, for example at the Laguna Seca Raceway in California.

Details of event dates and other information may be found at www.mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy

Following its inaugural year in the U.S., Mercedes-AMG is presenting a new season for driving enthusiasts who want to sharpen their advanced driving skills at the AMG Driving Academy. Among the list of enhancements is the addition of a Pro Level for 2010.  Under the guidance of top professional instructors, the AMG Driving Academy offers the opportunity to personally experience the excitement of motorsports and the track capabilities of Mercedes-AMG vehicles including the all new 563 hp SLS AMG, capable of 0-60 mph in less than four seconds.

Originally founded by Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, Germany in 2007, the AMG Driving Academy launched in the U.S. in 2009.  More than six-hundred driving enthusiasts participated in the advanced driver program last year, and participants now have the opportunity to attend an advanced three-day Pro Level program at one of the top circuits in the U.S., Road Atlanta.  Program participants have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of several AMG models including the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and SLS AMG.  The program features custom-designed exercises to experience and teach dynamic driving capabilities across two of the top tracks in the U.S:

• Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA) – May 15-16, June 11-14 & 28-30, 2010
  • For more than 40 years, Road Atlanta has lured top tier sports car and motorcycle racers from around the world. This 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course is one of the most technically challenging in the U.S.

• Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA) – August 27-29, September 25-27, October 29-30 and November 12-14, 2010
  • 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 of twisty asphalt.

The AMG Driving Academy Basic, Advanced and new Pro Level for 2010:

• Basic ($1,795 per participant): Intense one-day track program focuses on performance driving dynamics.  Participants learn the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises. Once participants perfect car control and handling, they progress to a set of high-speed exercises that make use of the entire track.
  • Road Atlanta: May 15-16 &  June 11 – 12
  • Laguna Seca Raceway: August 27-29, Sept. 25, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 12

• Advanced ($3,295 per participant): Two-day program picks up where Basic leaves off, providing advanced training and technical on-track instruction. Onboard diagnostics and data capture enable detailed computer analysis and evaluation.  The Advanced program is offered to drivers who complete either the Basic Level, AMG Challenge, European Driving Academy program or an equivalent course.
  • Road Atlanta: June 13-14, 2010
  • Laguna Seca Raceway: September 26-27 & November 13-14

• Pro ($3,995 per participant): The pinnacle of the AMG Driving Academy curriculum, Pro program offers increased instruction while challenging and improving capabilities and skills to a much greater degree.  During the three day program, participants train on the legendary Road Atlanta circuit.  As speeds increase and skills improve, open lapping provides the maximum challenge and thrill.  With an intense curriculum, AMG experienced instructors prepare participants to confidently negotiate the signature corners of Road Atlanta.
  • Road Atlanta: June 28-30, 2010

All fees include a dinner reception and introductory briefing the evening before the program, track hospitality, AMG Driving Academy certificate of program completion and an AMG gift bag.  Participants are responsible for travel and accommodations.  Additional information and registration for the AMG Driving Academy is available at www.AMGacademy.com or by phone at 1-800-217-6916.

After taking an extended weekend we’re back this beautiful March morning, kicking things off with details of the Mercedes AMG Driving Academy 2009/2010. Geared for those of you wishing to brush up on your driving skills under the guidance of professional instructors, the events of the new AMG Driving Academy have been expanded over years prior, with instruction given in a total of five skill levels: EMOTION, BASIC, ADVANCED, PRO and MASTERS.

The activities range from lifestyle-oriented events and race-training events all the way up to competitive racetrack training, each of which offers varying degrees of difficulty tailor-made to the individual needs of participants. Highlights include a drive to Lake Constance and through the landscapes of Vorarlberg to Bregenz/Austria; practicing on legendary racetracks such as the North Loop of the Nürburgring or the Grand Prix circuit in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium; and winter driving in in Arjeplog (Sweden) close to the Arctic Circle. There’s also an AMG MASTERS Sports Trophy, which will allow 25 drivers to take part in various competitive events, with points awarded in each. At the end of the competition, the driver with the most points will be offered a unique opportunity: the ability to pilot the AMG Mercedes C-Class currently used in the DTM series.

Although I personally haven’t attended the event, it sounds like a lot of fun, and if you do go, it should make for a kick-ass time. For more info, keep scrolling for the official details, accompanied by photos from past AMG Driving Academy events.