Dubai: Ever dreamt of owning a Mercedes AMG or if not, at least driving one? At the AMG Driving Academy, it gets even better. You can actually race one!
The Middle East arrival of this newly-introduced high-performance training programme promises to push drivers’ abilities to the limit in a premier selection of the latest AMG vehicles on one of the world’s most testing racetracks, the Yas Marina Circuit. Under the guidance of professional instructors and among fellow AMG enthusiasts, it’s an experience like no other, especially if you have been fortunate enough to watch or even listen to the Mercedes GP and the McLaren Mercedes or even the Force India Formula One engines in full throttle.
Teaching drivers to harness their full driving potential, the AMG Driving Academy advanced level UAE programme provides the knowledge and experience for perfect control of vehicles, coupled with great passion and the utmost in driving enjoyment. Participants can get a feel of the AMG high-performance models currently available, including the CLS 63 AMG, E 63 AMG, C 63 AMG, C 63 AMG Coupé and the SLK 55 AMG roadster.
The flagship of the academy, which made its Middle East debut at the launch and first intake of the AMG Driving Academy on January 9, is the newly launched SLS AMG GT - evolved through the incredible success of the SLS AMG GT3, which announced its arrival in the 2011 season by securing 26 victories in the FIA GT3 Series. Making its first ever track debut for regional media at the launch was the SLS AMG Roadster - a perfect synthesis of open-top driving pleasure, outstanding driving dynamics and systematic lightweight construction, with the overall visual appearance of the new two-seater marked by its purist design.
Briefing the drivers at the academy, Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East & Levant, said: “Everything Affalterbach puts into AMG vehicles was learned at the track, so it makes sense that enthusiasts can now share in that too. With the AMG Driving Academy, our customers can now experience the full passion of AMG driving performance, developing new found skills to explore the extreme limits of what these machines can deliver.”
“The AMG Driving Academy’s advanced training ensures safe and confident reactions. With the dual personality of AMGs - at home both on the track and the drive to the office - these are skills that not only deliver maximum enjoyment of track racing, but also the well-being of our customers and their families on even the most challenging public roads,” added Bernthaler.
The Dh7,750 single day AMG Driving Academy advanced skills programme concentrates on developing driving skills and sporty driving. In addition to the fundamentals of driving physics, the theoretical introduction primarily covers cornering technique, the ideal line and braking points. The mode of functioning of the various driver assistance systems, safety rules and driver behaviour also play a central role in this unit.
Section training on the race circuit sees the instructors explore in detail the particular characteristics of each section of corners, while guided driving behind the instructor makes it easier for the participants to identify the ideal line and braking points.
An AMG driver training team are on hand to answer all technical questions about the vehicles, and can accommodate two groups of 10 participants each. One instructor is assigned to each group and two participants share each car. The event rises to a suitably thrilling climax with the chance for the participants to sit in the passenger seat as a professional racing driver takes them for a spin in the SLS AMG GT Race Taxi.
Info
Speed demons wishing to register for the AMG Driving Academy can do so via a dedicated website at www.mb-me.com/ADA.
