Track day recap: Corso Pilota from Bahrain International Circuit

Teamspeed.com members gathered for a fun filled track day recently at the world famous Bahrain International Circuit to participate in the Corso Pilota program. Offered since 2006 and based on the Corso Pilota program available in Italy, the FERRARI DRIVING EXPERIENCE is an exclusive two-day precision driving school that allows Ferrari Owners and special guests to experience the performance of a Ferrari in the controlled environment of a race track.

Students drive the all-new 458 Italia, 599 HGTE and California on the panoramic and challenging Circuit Mont-Tremblant, a former Formula One venue.

The instructional team is a host of current and former professional racers. Among them are veteran Grand-Am drivers Jeff Segal and two-time Rolex 24-Hour champions (GT) J.F. Dumoulin and Anthony Lazzaro.

During the two day program, students learn various driving techniques including threshold braking, weight transfer, managing acceleration,identifying the ideal driving line on track and discovering the limits of vehicle adhesion in both wet and dry driving situations.

Although the setting is a race track, the FERRARI DRIVING EXPERIENCE is not a racing school. The focus is on learning to drive and control a Ferrari properly and to understand and communicate with the vehicle. Graduates are then better prepared to face challenging driving situations with an enhanced sense of awareness and greater precision. The school takes a step-by-step approach that starts with an important discussion of vehicle dynamics, or why cars behave the way they do. Skills are progressively developed before students lap the complete Mont-Tremblant race track.