Day 3: 5th November
We wake up, get ready to check out of the hotel and head to the track.
The entire group has been divided into two teams. One team will go to the DDC track for the slalom activity and the other team to the Driving Centre to drive the supercars.
We are in the group that is going for the Slalom activity.
The Slalom activity involves two Toyota GT86s. These cars are nowhere close to supercars but have got a lot of compliments for their beautiful handling and slide-ability.
We see the track and we are told that each of us will get two turns in this car. Each of us will be timed and the fastest times will be rewarded.
There is no instructor with us. We are just giving company to each other. Each of us are allowed to take a slow lap around the slalom course to get a bit familiar with the car and the track itself. Trying to understand that the placing of the cones also has a meaning!
The cones lying flat on the track pointing left implies we have to keep to the left. Two sets of cones pointing to each other mean we have to go between them. There is a full 180 degree turn at the end of the course which is constantly being sprayed with water to allow the car to slide a bit.
The biggest letdown in this activity is that we are barred from switching off any of the driver aids. So, Traction control and ESP and everything else will do their best to ensure we dont actually slide or drift.
After the first round of driving, surprise surprise, they announce that I have the fastest time!
A few of the people are noticeably upset as some of them are professional drivers. One has taken part in the VW series and another rallies regularly. And here I am, a fat guy setting the fastest time! Things are about to get a lot more aggressive in the second session!
There is a small building which is stocked with cool drinks, water and some snacks like croissants, muffins, etc... Pretty tasty stuff and a nice place to just chill out!
The second round starts and instantly everyone is more aggressive! Since there are penalties for hitting the cones, many of the really aggressive drivers set a faster time but get penalised heavily for hitting the cones.
I am unable to improve my time as I am one of those "really aggressive" drivers I mentioned above!
Eventually one fellow dealer from Bangalore who also takes part in motorsports as a hobby sets the fastest time.
However, there is a massive controversy as some of the times have got completely mixed up and some times havent even been recorded.
I personally dont care about this as I am here to have fun but some of the other dealers are quite pissed off with this. There is a lot of criticism of the Michelin team's handling of the timings.
Pics are below. Some of the over-exposed pictures are from the professional photographer hired by Michelin for the event. He uploaded the pictures on a website and we were able to access it later.
The remaining pictures are either from my DSLR or my phone.
The group picture shows me(in the Blue T Shirt), my dad and my cousin from Mysore.
After this session, we are taken towards the tents where we have been having our meals. Time for a lunch and we tuck into it greedily eagerly anticipating what is coming next! Driving some hardcore SUPERCARS!
During lunch we interact with the team who had gone to the Driving Centre in the morning. We learn that there are 6 supercars and each person will be allowed to drive 3 laps in 3 different cars.
Ferrari 458 Speciale
Lamborghini Hurracan
Porsche 911 GT3
Nissan GTR
Audi R8 V10
Porsche Cayman R
I've driven the 458 before. Twice actually. And the Lamborghini Gallardo once. My dad on the other hand has missed driving the 458 twice. My heart's deepest desire is that he gets to drive the Ferrari. No other car is as important as the Ferrari.
We are told that the groups have been randomly chosen. We dont have a choice in which supecar we are going to drive. This is obvious and a good choice. Most people would choose the Ferrari and that's not going to be feasible given the large group size and the limited time we have.
I have made up my mind that if I get a chance to drive a Ferrari and my dad doesnt, I will give it up for him. He's far more deserving of that privilege than me!
Coming up!