10 Track Day HPDE Programs Included With a New Car Purchase
When you buy a performance car, learning from a trained professional can help keep you safe while having fun.
Dodge
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Modern performance vehicles are designed to boast acceleration and handling once reserved for dedicated race cars. That kind of power can be a lot for a novice driver, but luckily there are several manufacturer-backed driving schools to help you learn how to control your new ride.
The following list highlights performance driving programs included with purchasing a new vehicle. The programs are complementary, but you'll still have to cover your travel expenses.
BMW
BMW New Owner's Track Drive
BMW's New Owner's Track Drive is a driving experience available with a new vehicle purchase. BMW buyers can also bring a guest for free, and additional guest seats can be purchased for $299 each. BMW offers the program at its Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Thermal, California, Performance Centers.
At both locations, BMW splits the program between two sessions. One is dedicated to off-road driving and another is for on-track driving, both of which take place on closed courses. The off-road portion uses BMW's X line of vehicles to showcase the automaker's xDrive all-wheel-drive technology on a dirt course featuring hills, obstacles, and water crossings.
The Performance Driving session takes place on a paved track and features a variety of BMW cars. This segment allows owners to test the limits of acceleration, braking, and handling and concludes with a hot lap in an M car with a BMW instructor behind the wheel.
Cadillac
Cadillac V-Performance Academy
The Cadillac V-Performance Academy is a program for buyers of the company's CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing high-performance sedans.
The two-day academy at Spring Mountain Motor Resort near Las Vegas consists of classroom instruction and instructor-led on-track training. The program concludes with hot laps on the racetrack, which boasts more than 50 configurations.
The V-Performance Academy includes accommodations for two nights in the Spring Mountain trackside condominiums and complimentary breakfast and lunch on both training days.
Dodge
Dodge SRT Experience
The SRT Experience is Dodge's performance driving school. Dodge includes it with the purchase of their SRT performance vehicles. The one-day course takes place at the Radford Racing School in Chandler, Arizona.
The SRT Experience begins with a classroom session covering the basics of car control. From there, SRT owners take their skills to the track in a series of exercises that include accident avoidance, a slalom course, autocross racing, and a lead-follow session behind a professional instructor around the 1.6-mile road course. The driving school concludes with hot laps in an instructor-driven vehicle on the track.
Toyota
Toyota High Performance Driving Event
The purchase of any new Toyota GR86, GR Corolla, or GR Supra comes with a complimentary one-year National Auto Sport Association membership, including one free High Performance Driving Event (HPDE). The single-day HPDE program includes classroom instruction followed by on-track driving on a closed course.
Toyota's driving events are held at venues across the United States, offering five different driver experience levels, ranging from beginner to seasoned veteran. There's no upcharge for the more advanced classes, but you must meet a few prerequisites.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy
The AMG Driving Academy is a complimentary program available to buyers of several new Mercedes-AMG models. It includes a single day of performance driver training at one of six tracks: Laguna Seca Raceway (California), The Concours Club (Florida), Lime Rock Park (Connecticut), Sonoma Raceway (California), Road Atlanta (Georgia), and Circuit of the Americas (Texas). The Performance program includes instruction from a professional driver and complimentary breakfast and lunch.
In addition to the standard Performance school, the AMG Academy offers programs in ascending skill levels known as Advanced, Pro, and Pro Plus. You must complete one program to move to the next.
You have to pay extra to participate in the advanced programs, with costs ranging from around $4,500 to around $5,000. However, AMG offers a purchase reward to lower the cost depending on the model of your vehicle.
For drivers more interested in going sideways than clipping the perfect apex, the AMG Driving Academy also offers Drift and Drift Plus courses. Those programs cost around $2,000 and $2,500, respectively, and are not eligible for the purchase reward.
Porsche
Porsche Academy
The Porsche Academy happens at the automaker's Experience Centers in Atlanta and Los Angeles, along with its Track Experience in Birmingham, Alabama. Costs for the four-session program range from about $600 to almost $4,000, depending on which model Porsche you'd like to drive. There's also an off-road session available for the Cayenne SUV.
Chevrolet
Corvette Owners School
Buyers of a new Corvette can attend a two-day driving program through the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School. The $1,000 program takes place at Spring Mountain and includes overnight accommodations.
Ford
Ford Performance Racing School
Hosted at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, the Ford Performance Racing School uses Mustang GT coupes and is offered in one-day classes for about $2,000 and two-day for about $4,000. Drivers can add a day of advanced driver training to the two-day experience for around $3,000.
Subaru
Subaru DirtFish Rally School
Subaru is well-known for its rallying pedigree, so it should be no surprise that it holds its driving school at DirtFish's gravel, dirt, and mud track just outside Seattle.
In addition to choosing between half-day, one-day, and three-day programs, participants can also select their rally vehicle of choice; either the rear-wheel-drive BRZ or the all-wheel-drive WRX STI. Prices range from around $1,000 to about $5,500.
Lexus
Lexus Performance Driving School
The Lexus Performance Driving School (LPDS) is a full-day program split between two skill levels: the entry-level performance class and the advanced master class, each featuring a professional lead instructor.
The performance class is led by professional racecar driver and instructor Scott Pruett for around $1,000 at four venues: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sonoma Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Circuit of the Americas.
Participants who complete the performance class can graduate to the master class program at Sonoma Raceway, Circuit of the Americas, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Professional racing driver Townsend Bell leads the program, which costs around $2,000.
All LPDS programs utilize the Lexus Performance line of vehicles, which includes the LC 500, RC F, RC Track Edition, and IS 500 F Sport Performance.
