Mercedes to open AMG Driving Academy at three U.S. tracks, will include SLS
06/25/2009, 12:46 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Mercedes-Benz says it plans to begin a United States series of its AMG Driving Academy at a trio of race tracks, including Leftlane’s official test course, Palm Beach International Raceway. The program, which begins in September, will offer drivers the opportunity to sample the automaker’s all-new 2011 SLS AMG later this year.
Mercedes will offer the courses in three different locations this year: Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, Connecticut (September 9-15), Palm Beach International Raceway in West Palm Beach, Florida (September 22-27), and Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California (November 7-8, 17-20).
Only the Laguna Seca event will allow drivers to test out the SLS AMG. The program, which includes a stay at Monterey’s InterContinental Hotel, costs $2,295 per participant. Otherwise, those who sign up will be able to drive the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and the CLK63 AMG Black Series.
Otherwise, Mercedes will offer either a $1,895 Stage I one-day program or a more advanced and intensive $3,495 Stage II program.
06/25, 12:49 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Mercedes on a reactrack!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Who do they think they are Cadillac? Chevy? Pontiac? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA What a joke.
06/25, 12:50 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
They’d better have plenty of tow trucks on hand. Most likely Kodiaks with reliable, durable GM engines.
06/25, 12:57 PM
posted by:
speedemon
And HOW MANY Le Mans Championships have GM won?????????????
06/25, 1:00 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
OMG… I thought I missed this but I remembered how annoying NMOFGM can be. Carstuff did a much better job pretending to be 1115 than NMOFGM is at being himself.
Mercedes racing has a very long historical past and they do make some very fine racecars, even before GM was even in existence. Now, today they do make most, if not all, AMG’s only with autos that upsets many, me included (it would be nice middleground if they just used DSG’s) but I’ve driven many AMG’s, several on the racetrack, and all of which I enjoyed beyond my expectations. This would be very, very fun to do, especially with the SLS (Not the lower level Caddy STS but the MB version).
06/25, 1:01 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I guess NMOFG’s mom must have restored his computer privileges after that embarrassing incident involving eBay and her unmentionables.
06/25, 1:58 PM
posted by:
bdoyle87
How many Le Mans Chamionships has GM won… Hasn’t Team Corvette won their class like every year pretty much…?
06/25, 2:06 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
As regard to Need more attention…. whatever…..
Benz driving school with he new SLS Super Car, I’m so there!
06/25, 3:55 PM
posted by:
speedemon
Your CommentWinners
Year Drivers Team Car Laps Distance
2009 David Brabham
Marc Gené
Alexander Wurz Peugeot Sport Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAP 382 5206.28 km
2008 Tom Kristensen
Allan McNish
Rinaldo Capello Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI 381 5192.65 km
2007 Frank Biela
Emanuele Pirro
Marco Werner Audi Sport North America Audi R10 TDI 369 5036.85 km
2006 Frank Biela
Emanuele Pirro
Marco Werner Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI 380 5187 km
2005 JJ Lehto
Marco Werner
Tom Kristensen ADT Champion Racing Audi R8 370 5050.5 km
2004 Seiji Ara
Tom Kristensen
Rinaldo Capello Audi Sport Japan Team Goh Audi R8 379 5169.9 km
2003 Tom Kristensen
Rinaldo Capello
Guy Smith Team Bentley Bentley Speed 8 377 5146.05 km
2002 Frank Biela
Tom Kristensen
Emanuele Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R8 375 5118.75 km
2001 Frank Biela
Tom Kristensen
Emanuele Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R8 321 4381.65 km
2000 Frank Biela
Tom Kristensen
Emanuele Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R8 368 5007.99 km
1999 Pierluigi Martini
Yannick Dalmas
Joachim Winkelhock Team BMW Motorsport BMW V12 LMR 365 4968 km
1998 Laurent Aïello
Allan McNish
Stéphane Ortelli Porsche AG Porsche 911 GT1-98 351 4773.18 km
1997 Michele Alboreto
Stefan Johansson
Tom Kristensen Joest Racing TWR Porsche WSC-95 361 4909.6 km
1996 Manuel Reuter
Davy Jones
Alexander Wurz Joest Racing TWR Porsche WSC-95 354 4814.4 km
HUMMMMM WHERE’S GM??????????OH THATS RIGHT GM DON’T HAVE THE BALLS TO BE ON PARR WITH OTHERS PROTOTYPES!!!!!GT1 HA!
06/25, 4:42 PM
posted by:
scratchy
the SLS will be great, can’t wait for the SLS Black Series and the Brabus SLS.
06/25, 5:47 PM
posted by:
bdoyle87
Again… The Corvette Team wins every year in the class it runs in.
06/25, 6:51 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
C’mon guys are you seriously continuing a NMOFGM topic?
This Academy sounds pretty good, specially for us car enthusiasts and sounds even greater for MB, they’ll win some serious cash on here.
06/29, 9:41 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
They should bring CTS and STS V-series to the Academy so people can see what a real performance sedan is like, not some wannabe that spends its life on the back of a flatbed or in the shop getting fixed.
Buy American. Buy GM.
07/02, 5:15 PM
posted by:
nickkop
hahah that why my dad just bought a 6 year- old E55 AMG instead of a NEW G8 or CTS 1 > costs nearly the same because it HAS a residual value. WHY ? 2 > it won’t fall apart after a year or two like GM’s 3 > you won’t look like a blue collar redneck driving one. All this having been said, i do like the G8 GTP and CTS-V