dream | act | succeed

The day started as expected. I got up early, 3:50 am, got ready to go and started driving at 4:30 am. I reached Neuburg after some 2 hours 30 minutes. I know the tour until Ingolstadt by heart these days, so only the last part was really new. I arrived early, had some 45 minutes until the event would start. Time to look at the cars in the showroom, to look at the track, to talk with the other participants. The event started with the theoretical part. Precise information, experienced instructor, good presentation. There was nothing new for me, but for the others it seemed like they really needed the info.

Something before 8, the fun part starts. Every participant got a number, 18 people in total! 9 cars with two people. Audi B9 RS4. Some red, some grey. Traction control and ESC always off. We had 6 challenges to overcome. Four practice runs, four runs that get graded. The tarmac was smooth but very low grip. Water was sprayed on the area constantly. The perfect condition for this training.

Challenge I: Speed up to 70 km/h, react to a light signal and brake without ABS or anything else on, open the brakes, steer around an obstacle, come to a standstill.

Challenge II: Drive with 30 km/h into a field, apply full steering angle to the left, the car understeers, open the steering angle slowly until the car drives around the corner again.

Challenge III: Speed up to 70 km/h, react to a light signal and a poly the brakes, this time with ABS, steer around the obstacle by using the opposite side from the one indicated by the light inside the car.

Challenge IV: Drive with 50 km/h on a certain part of the track where the left side tires has lower grip on the tarmac and the right side tires more, apply full brake pressure without ABS or anything else on. The car oversteers to the left. Get off the brake pedal and counter steer to catch the car.

Challenge V: Speed up to 70 km/h, react to a light signal, lift of the gas pedal, steer around the obstacle using the opposite lane from the one indicated. Then control the car and break.

Challenge VI: Handling parkour. Drive slowly around the small parkour. Always two laps. Then two laps in the passenger seat. Now two laps with the instructor sitting next to you. Two laps alone but with the time running against you. And two laps with the instructor following you in the car behind.

See you next time!