A day out at Porsche Experience, Silverstone - Page 3 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

TL;DR: Drove some 911s, had great fun. A couple of days ago, I was lucky enough to go on a 911 driving experience at the Porsche facility at Silverstone. Thought I'd make a few notes for anyone interested. To get to the centre, you drive through the main gates of Silverstone circuit itself and follow the access road round. Circuits on non-race days always have a slightly forlorn, windswept air to them, but your state of mind begins to change as you see evocative names such as Club, Vale and Stow. The centre is located a stone's throw from the middle of the Hangar Straight, and during my visit there were some Radical, BMW Z4 and Audi R8 GT cars testing. That in itself was worth the trip. (library pic) The car park was stuffed full of tasty metal; Porsches of all flavours were represented. Amongst my favourites: Beautiful original Targa Next door to its youngest son, the 991 Targa: 993 991 Turbo & 997.2 GT3 RS The Porsche facility is on three levels: on the ground floor is a reception area with some current and historic models (and of course the massively overpriced Porsche branded goods - particular favourite was the carbon fibre pipe), first floor is a restaurant, and top floor is a viewing gallery. On arrival, you are greeted and given a rather natty name badge: The showroom had some very interesting vehicles: Cayman GTS 991 C4S with Aerokit. Love the colour. 550 RS Spyder RS Spyder The staff then directed us up to the restaurant, where we had a beautiful lunch provided. A quick sign of a disclaimer, a further wander round the showroom and we went into the pre-drive briefing. During this ten minute briefing, an instructor talks you through the format of the afternoon's driving experience. In essence, we were to try 2 cars: both 991s, but one a four wheel drive manual and one a two wheel drive PDK, the idea being to feel the difference between them in a variety of situations. The facility consists of several different circuits: two for handling, an "ice hill", a "kickplate", some straights, and a low friction surface. We were allowed to choose which we'd like to try, in case there was anything specific you were interested in. I opted to move from circuit to circuit, trying out as many as possible. The circuits at the Porsche Experience: You are then introduced to your instructor for the afternoon - mine was a very nice guy called Mark. "My" 991 for part of the afternoon So, the driving. I started in the four wheel drive, manual car. First of all we went to the handling circuit shown on the right hand of the above picture. This is a two-lane road way, very similar to a go kart track with some serious elevation changes. The first lap I was told to "mooch around", just to get the lie of the land. By the second lap, however, Mark the instructor, um, instructed me to start thinking about racing lines, hitting apexes and changing gears. This is when the real fun started. Every lap you begin to trust the car more and more, applying the throttle slightly earlier, knowing that the rears would just bed down and get on with it. Mark then put the car in "Sports Plus" which transformed it. The sports exhaust opened its flaps, and the auto-blip started to work on the manual downshifts to perfectly match your revs. This is an incredibly clever system and makes you feel (and sound like) a properly heroic wheelsmith. It's all very well thinking you're a good driver on the road, but I probably didn't hit one apex or brake in the correct place the whole time. Mark remained calm and assuring. Boy oh boy was it fun though. Next, we moved to the kickplate. This is based at the beginning of the low friction (water sprayed) surface. It is a metal plate attached to hydraulic rams embedded into the road. You approach it between 20 and 25 mph, and when your back wheels go over the metal, the rams kick the plate randomly to the left or the right to induce oversteer. By that stage, you are on the low friction surface so catching the slide is pretty tricky. We had several goes (both in the 4wd and 2wd vehicles) with and without PSM (Porsche Stability Management) switched on to feel all the different combinations. I could have played on this all afternoon - how much more fun could you have than drifting a 911 around? (If my explanation was terrible, you can see a video of it here: http://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/porschedrivi... We then tried the straights, which was an opportunity to do some 0-60 runs, as well as some 60-0 tests. One of the dictats that Porsche management enforce is the ability of their cars to decelerate from 60-0 in less than half the time it takes them to sprint from 0-60. To put that in context, think of the 918 Spyder with its 2.6 second 0-60 time...I would imagine your eyeballs would touch the windscreen. We performed some swerve avoidance tests too, which again highlighted just how mental you'd have to go on the road to exceed the performance of the vehicle. As a finale, it was back out onto the other handling circuit for a few more "hot" laps (I was quite the helmsman by this point of course). The only downside to the day? Not having the means to put a deposit down on anything!

Thanks for the review! I hadn't heard about this. But now I'm planning on doing the "evolution 911" experience for my birthday

I've done this twice now,even though I'm not a Porschephile.Great value,full time in the car,friendly instructors who are happy for you to indulge.They'll even let you tweek the car choices a bit if you're nice. Other than the Palmer day,I'd rate this as one of the best £ per car-time ones out there.

Been lucky enough to do this a couple if times too, thoroughly recommend it

How much is it? Sounds great. I have done a couple of full days at Silverstone driving 11 different vehicles including: 2x rallycars, Porsche 911, Ferrari, Lotus, single seater - 2 of the best days of my life and a supplier paid both times :-) I even won the rally challenge on my second visit and have the "silver" engraved plate to show for it.

Pelo said: Thanks for the review! I hadn't heard about this. But now I'm planning on doing the "evolution 911" experience for my birthday Yep, me too, sounds brilliant and great value for money.

Have been 3 times and the facility is excellent. Low friction bit is the best for me, spent a lot of time with the instructor there learning and getting a constant drift between each of the hairpins and then full 360's on the 'bowl' at the end, epic fun and I think great value. Much more driving time than you will ever get on any of the current track experiences

R6VED said: How much is it? Sounds great. By memory between £250-£350 depending on yr car choices for a full 90 minutes in the car.

Done a couple of driving days there, it's good fun but the track is tight and small, I wouldn't pay for it though. Palmer is a better bet for a full on track day.

Recently did a morning there in a cayman, as a prize won here on pistonheads great fun. Even if I paid the £275 would have considered it good vale for 90minutes driving time. You were encouraged to push hard on the track and all exercises. The kicker plate was really difficult had several goes before I could catch it even at less than 25mph. The other exercises like the ice hill, and low.friction circuit were far easier as you has an expectation as to which way the was going to slide. Overall really good experience although I didn't always think the tight technical low speed exercises show the porsches off too their best, thought some higher speed faster corners might high light why they are better than a lot of smaller cheaper sports cars. Edited by mikey P 500 on Saturday 8th November 22:05

The food's good, if a little lacking for the bigger appetite... I've done my free half day (given when you buy a car) and my kindly OPC have also sent me on two full days. Enjoyable as a jolly, but I wouldn't pay to go.

Great review. I've been a few times and it's fab. The skid pans are a real eye opener as to how s t we humans really are when it comes to reacting to something out of the ordinary in wet conditions - and how much a computer will do to save your skin. Fab place, hugely recommended.

Great write up. I must remember to book one I'm owed in! Last time I went it was the 997.2 tip vs man. Wow what a day. I got to drive a 993 on the circuit as well as being taken out around the track in a cayenne diesel which I recently bought. Great experience!

Thanks for the comments. Regarding prices, not sure - it was a freebie

Has anybody been to these more recently?

Yes I went in October.

Scrump said: Yes I went in October. How was it etc? I’ve read some Tripadvisor reviews - 3 of us are going shortly. It’s effectively a Turbo and Turbo S afternoon

I thought it was really good. Covid meant we had table bookings in the restaurant and masks at all times in the building. Once in the car with the instructor we chatted about what I wanted out of the afternoon and we agreed on what we were going to focus on. Thoroughly enjoyable and some great tuition.

Yes, last year before the whole Covid thing kicked off. It came free with buying a new Porsche. Excellent half day out. I’m don’t get a lot of enjoyment out of thrashing round a track at high speed, although we did some of that. The best parts for me were the braking exercise which showcased the phenomenal brakes fitted to the Macan, and the kicker plate which induces a sort of skid that you have to catch. The instructor was excellent and the lunch was good too. The only downside for me was that my wife – who came along to watch and get a free lunch – couldn’t share the driving (although I’ve since heard some attendees saying they did share driving with their fellow attendee).

They will let you share if you ask. I shared my experience morning last month.

Last Monday

southerndriver said: Yes, last year before the whole Covid thing kicked off. It came free with buying a new Porsche. Excellent half day out. I’m don’t get a lot of enjoyment out of thrashing round a track at high speed, although we did some of that. The best parts for me were the braking exercise which showcased the phenomenal brakes fitted to the Macan, and the kicker plate which induces a sort of skid that you have to catch. The instructor was excellent and the lunch was good too. The only downside for me was that my wife – who came along to watch and get a free lunch – couldn’t share the driving (although I’ve since heard some attendees saying they did share driving with their fellow attendee). I went last Monday and shared the morning with my son in law as I have been a few times before. I was more than happy to share as I just wanted to to drive the tracks and the straights and not bothered about the low friction skid pan, kick plate or ice hill. The instructor did however give me a couple of goes on the kick plate but the Macan threw a wobbly when all the traction control systems were turned off and a host of warning lights came on and the car went into rear wheel drive only. Had to gingerly drive back to the centre . Car eventually reset itself after a while. Edited by Mark-ri571 on Sunday 12th December 10:28

Took our own 997 Turbo their in 2017 ... to be taught how to drive it properly. Was a brilliant half day. A couple of great session with the instructor.

Yeah, I went last month (purchased it myself, so I could get properly acquainted with a 718 Cayman to confirm whether I wanted a 981 GTS now or some variant of 718). I've been on a number of track days and this was the most enjoyable and beneficial by far. It's very much focused on technique, real-world scenarios and getting the most out of whatever car you've chosen to drive. Other days I've been on seemed more focused on allowing people to mildly push poster cars they'll unlikely ever be able to afford. It has annoyed me in the past when instructors are commanding you to shift up at 6500 on car that's got another 2000 to go. The instructor was excellent and everyone was very welcoming. Lunch and afternoon tea were a nice touch. The whole day left me feeling really positive about the brand as a whole. In a funny sort of way it's actually a really good advert for Porsche, especially if you're not an existing owner.

david-j8694 said: Yeah, I went last month (purchased it myself, so I could get properly acquainted with a 718 Cayman to confirm whether I wanted a 981 GTS now or some variant of 718). I've been on a number of track days and this was the most enjoyable and beneficial by far. It's very much focused on technique, real-world scenarios and getting the most out of whatever car you've chosen to drive. Other days I've been on seemed more focused on allowing people to mildly push poster cars they'll unlikely ever be able to afford. It has annoyed me in the past when instructors are commanding you to shift up at 6500 on car that's got another 2000 to go. The instructor was excellent and everyone was very welcoming. Lunch and afternoon tea were a nice touch. The whole day left me feeling really positive about the brand as a whole. In a funny sort of way it's actually a really good advert for Porsche, especially if you're not an existing owner. Nicely written, found the same myself...and what did you decide re 981 vs 982?

Fnumber1user said: Nicely written, found the same myself...and what did you decide re 981 vs 982? I picked up a 981 GTS less than a week later The 718 base felt very capable, but I'd just come from a coupe with a fairly powerful turbocharged engine, and I fancied something completely different. The 718 is of course a superb sports car and looks great to my eyes, but I wanted something that felt and sounded a little more raucous, in addition to being hugely capable. A couple of local OPCs were open to taking a deposit on a 718 GTS 4.0, but given the 9-12 month wait time, who knows what I'll want by then. The howling flat 6 has ticked my boxes for the time being though Edited by david-j8694 on Monday 13th December 09:50

In Holland we get a half day road-based advanced training with a new Porsche. I did mine today accompanied by a police driving instructor. In a Porsche Cayenne. Covered everything from emergency stops from 200+ kph and ‘making progress’ on backroads (sight lines. Apex spotting, etc etc) to proper off-road driving. Great fun and I learned a lot

I need to go again. Been 3 times. Such a nice day out. You learn and 1 to 1 tuition cant be beaten. I did the formula ford at silverstone recently and it was rubbish. Horrible shonky single seater and a dangerous set up with everyone in a race type scenario . Didnt learn anything and it all felt unsafe. Pec is a quality place.

Went yesterday. Fantastic, made particularly so by Jill my instructor. Had it with the purchase of a new car, was told it would happen before the car went no change, for both the dealer and I it is a shame it did not as I would have added about another £10kof spec.

Are we doing the 'Precision' one?

Had a morning there last June. Four cars driven. All excellent. A great experience! In my last 10 minutes the instructor asked what I'd like to do (which track, I think). I said, 'I'd like you to drive and show me how good this car really is' (it was the GT2RS 2022 version). Well, it was bloomin' amazing and I would never have thought that the car was so throwable. He drove it like he stole it and I shall probably never experience driving like it again. I would highly recommend this tactic if anyone is due to have the Porsche Experience day. JM

is contacting the experiance center on an allocation basis

turbospud said: is contacting the experiance center on an allocation basis If you've placed an order for a new car then they should contact you shortly after via e-mail. You'll get a letter with a Reference number, you call them up and book. It's free/included in the price of the car. or... Decide which type of experience day you want to do. Call, book, pay. ( PEC Silverstone 01327 855 911)

I quite fancy doing this how far in advance do you need to book?

When I made my booking recently they were working up to 8 weeks ahead. If you have a specific date in mind and want to book further ahead I think you'd be best trying to call (before Christmas they were understaffed and making contact wasn't straightforward, but it appears to be improving) or e-mail indicating which "experience" you want to do and they should get back to you with availability. The options are here: https://www2.pec.porsche.com/silverstone/en/ An online booking system would be preferable showing availability, but for now it's phone or email.

i was being sarcastic,the phone goes unanswered and this is the email response Thank you for contacting the Porsche Driving Experience. The Centre is experiencing a high number of calls and emails and we apologise for any delays with our response time. We will aim to reply to your email within 5 working days, between 09.00 and 17.00, Monday – Friday. porsche should do a satisfaction survey on their own center,same as they do for the dealers

M11rph said: When I made my booking recently they were working up to 8 weeks ahead. If you have a specific date in mind and want to book further ahead I think you'd be best trying to call (before Christmas they were understaffed and making contact wasn't straightforward, but it appears to be improving) or e-mail indicating which "experience" you want to do and they should get back to you with availability. The options are here: https://www2.pec.porsche.com/silverstone/en/ An online booking system would be preferable showing availability, but for now it's phone or email. Thanks for the info, Looking to take a couple of mates as a surprise

I’m doing my third visit there next week. The first two in their 991s and this time in my own 997.1 Turbo. Emails to book it were answered within a week. The phone call to book it was answered after a couple of minutes last week and they had plenty of availability within a week of the call, stretching forward into June.

Just back from doing my day at PEC. Great day. Big fun and learnt plenty from my instructor (Nick). He managed to pitch the amount of information perfectly to my needs and didn't give me too much grief for my hamfisted efforts. Really enjoyed the car (718 GTS) and confirmed that I'd made the correct choices for me. I can see myself going back.

M11rph said: Just back from doing my day at PEC. Great day. Big fun and learnt plenty from my instructor (Nick). He managed to pitch the amount of information perfectly to my needs and didn't give me too much grief for my hamfisted efforts. Really enjoyed the car (718 GTS) and confirmed that I'd made the correct choices for me. I can see myself going back. I'm guessing your instructor was Nick Arnold. He was my instructor the last time I was there. He made a good day great. Splendid chap.

Me too... I did the morning session today in their white 992 GTS. It was fantastic. Mark was my instructor for the day, he asked what I was looking to do and I asked him to teach me about handling and driving at speed, and he did just that. We spent a lot of time on the track correcting my bad habits and improving my technique, and at the end we were flying around the handling circuit at a speed I was really surprised at (and frankly, it was an adrenaline rush and a half). He also taught me how to properly correct a skid on the kick plate, first time out I just spun the car but after his coaching I was catching it and correcting naturally, and it all made sense. We finished up doing some sprints, playing with launch control and learning how to brake properly, which was fun too. I learned a huge amount today, and Mark is a fantastic (and patient) teacher. Aside from that the centre was great, as were the staff, and the food was lovely. It was a great day out, and I can see me heading back there again later this year. This one was a "freebie" from the OPC when I bought my 991 GTS, but I would happily pay to go, it was well worth it. Edited by gd on Thursday 23 March 23:47