Porsche GB Driving Experience Facility

Rack and Opinion is just back from this slice of heaven in Northamptonshire, UK.

Here Porsche have built a driver centre and vehicle test centre just off the main (Hangar) straight of Silverstone race circuit, UK.

Today we got the chance to drive Porsche's facelift 997 fitted intriguingly, with PDK, Porsche's double clutch auto/manual transmission.

The 962C, the first Porsche to use a double clutch transmission, way back in 1988!

I will be splitting the articles into three.

• This one: on the centre itself
  
• one on the new facelifted 997 Carrera and CarerraS
• one on Porsche's instantaneous new dual clutch PDK: Porsche Doppel Kupplungen (essentially Porsche-Double-Coupling in German)

The Centre is not yet finished and it officially opens in September but they have been previewing all July. It contains a selection of very tasty modern and older Porsche's including the 911 T Sportomatic above and the only car to use PDK before this latest 911: the 1988 962C below.

Inside, the Porsche centre boasts a cinema, 'individual-iser' allowing you to see how your choice of options will look, a restaurant, viewing gallery (for the driving outside), gym(?!), briefing room and demonstration centre.

Outside the compact layout is well managed, divided as it is into 4 zones.

1. The handling circuit, which is similar to, though shorter than Milbrook's Alpine Circuit.
2. The Kickplate; replicates a sudden loss of grip on a very slippery surface.
3. The 'Ice Hill' is another epoxy surface that also has almost zero grip when wet (as it it kept) here you are encouraged to try sudden direction changes, with varying results!
4. The low grip handling circuit: here tarmac mixed with limestone is polished to a high sheen making for low grip cornering. This, attacked at a higher pace than the others, shows the preservation effect of PSM (Porsche Stability Management) and encourages you finally to indulge in a little power oversteer with it switched off.

It is an absolutely tremendous facility. Apparently it will mainly be used for 'deposit droppers', those taking possession of a new Porsche or encouraging new customers.

More on the new 997 and PDK to come, plus a video or two of the day.

**Short first video here