Porsche Cars Great Britain has been granted planning permission to build an all-new driver training facility adjacent to the world famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Building work commences this summer and it should become operational by summer 2008.
The new facility will be built on a 10.2 hectare plot situated on the outside of Becketts corner on the Grand Prix circuit. Once complete, it will allow every customer of a new Porsche in the UK to receive expert tuition on the performance capabilities and safety systems of their cars.
At the entrance to the Porsche facility will be the bespoke Driving Centre featuring ‘distinctive architectural cues’ according to Porsche. It will not only house the reception and display areas for Porsche vehicles, but also a restaurant and a Porsche Human Performance Centre offering fitness assessments and instruction in techniques aimed at improving stamina, coordination and reaction times for drivers of all levels. The top floor of the building will feature a platform with panoramic views of the Porsche track and Grand Prix circuit.
The track itself will allow Porsche customers to be instructed through a variety of different situations in wet and dry conditions, as well as simulating ice and snow driving with the use of specially constructed surfaces. Furthermore, the track has been designed to allow it to be split into four separate areas that can be used independently of each other or connected together to form a longer handling circuit with a length of 3.1km.