The Porsche Track Experience

Have you heard of the Porsche Driving School?

It’s a driving school for Porsche owners who have held a Japanese standard vehicle driver’s license for at least one year. Participants bring their own Porsches. I believe its official name used to be the “Porsche Sports Driving School,” but when I checked the website again recently, I found it had been renamed the “Porsche Track Experience.”

What Happens at the Porsche Track Experience?

The Porsche Track Experience offers five levels of instruction, from the introductory “Warm Up (Plus)” to the advanced “Fast Track.” It’s usually held twice a year, in spring (June) and fall (October). My husband has been going every time since 2016, and after each session he’d say, “I learned so much!” and “That was so much fun!”

I got curious and checked the website, but there was so little information that I still couldn’t get a clear picture of what the course involved. So I asked my husband, “What exactly do you do at a Porsche driving school?” His answer caught me completely off guard.

Oh, I set up a GoPro in the car and film everything every time. Want to watch?

…Wait, what!? And why exactly (-_-)!?

Seriously, who are you? Anyway, today I’m sharing footage from the most beginner-friendly course, the “Warm Up” program.

The “Warm Up” Program

“Warm Up” is a half-day course (my husband’s session was held in the morning). Its goal is to master the fundamentals of “go, turn, and stop”—including braking, steering, and throttle control. After covering the basics, such as driving position, hand placement on the steering wheel, and how to fasten your seat belt, participants move on to four practical exercises:

① Braking (ABS braking): Braking lesson
② Emergency avoidance: Emergency braking lesson
③ Slalom: Slalom and handling lesson
④ Wet skid circle: Steady circular training

So, let’s take a look at the video first.

What Each Exercise Teaches You

What did you think? My husband’s Boxster has a manual transmission, so I said, “I can’t believe you do all that in a manual!” He replied, “It’s fine—we only use up to second gear.”

Here’s a quick look at what each exercise is designed to teach:

① Braking (ABS braking) gives you a firsthand feel for the stopping power of a Porsche’s brakes.
② Emergency avoidance teaches you to brake hard first, then steer to avoid an obstacle. You also experience how the car can remain stable even when you steer while braking.
③ Slalom puts your cornering technique to the test: when to steer into a turn, and how to use the throttle—not the brakes—to help guide the car through it.
④ Wet skid circle lets you feel what it’s like when a car begins to slide, and how Porsche Stability Management (PSM) helps stabilize the car and prevent the slide from getting worse.

That’s the idea, anyway.
＊Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is a system that helps stabilize a vehicle’s handling in dangerous situations, further enhancing safety.

When I asked my husband what he liked about the course, he said:

“You become a better driver, plain and simple. My everyday driving gets much smoother, including on mountain roads. I actually learn the most from Warm Up—even more than from the advanced classes.”

This Year’s Spring Session Has Been Announced

This year’s Porsche Track Experience will be held at Fuji Speedway in June. Registration for the spring session is first come, first served, but the opening date is still being finalized. (＊The date will be announced on the website once confirmed.)
You can find more details on this page.

The website used to mention a special gift for women participants, but that’s gone now… Anyway, I hope you’ll give it a try—and, well, I should probably sign up too. (I’m a little nervous, haha.)