In any currency, 2,990 euros for two days at a track is a lot of money. At today's exchange rate that's £2,340, $3,710 or 430,000 yen. Without flights. But having experienced AMG's Advanced Training Academy at Portimao it's hard not so surmise that the figure looks good value. Of course the situation is different as a guest rather than a paying customer but there is comfortably enough to make the outlay worthwhile. Really.
Portimao better than gold anyway
Driving Portimao is almost enough of a reason on its own. Anyone who believes that modern circuits lack entertainment or challenge or fear factor needs to visit Portugal very soon. Portimao is totally fantastic. There are braking zones that will really test your mettle, big elevation changes and corners that always require some self reassurance every single lap. How the bike lads do it so fast I really don't know.
The itinerary begins with an hour of theory on the first evening about how to sit in the car, where to look and the difference between positive and negative ubersteuern. Otherwise known as a controlled drift or an embarrassing spin. On which note we were told the ESP was never to be disengaged unless explicitly told. Boo.
ESP ... on?
Fortunately, the first activity was on the skidpan where the ESP most definitely could be disengaged. Goody. Turns out the SL63 go very sideways, very quickly. With Bernd Schneider (yes, really) ordering commands through the walkie-talkie it's easier to up your powersliding game. Mainly as he has quite an intimidating walkie-talkie voice. Never has a man sounded so disappointed at a failed drift.
Stationary SLS must have doors raised. Fact
From there we were practicing for an autotest competition in the
A45 AMG
. Even that early on in the programme the appeal was clear; yes, the Advanced Academy costs a lot of money and doesn't appear to last long but so much is crammed into those days you can't feel short changed. Turns out A45s are ideally suited to the autotest discipline, the fantastic brakes and lack of lag really helping. Also helps that you don't have to change gear much...
But there was time for that, learning the circuit in a CLA45 later on Tuesday afternoon. As a first experience of the '45 AMG range of cars on track it was certainly interesting. Even on a long and fast circuit the CLA feels fast but the paddles still don't always respond when you want them to and, even without being able to disable the ESP, it feels like very nose-led 4WD car. Perhaps one to try again soon.
Schneider on the mic
Next? Trail-braking in an SLS. This was what I meant about cramming a lot in. Bernd was back to barking down the walkie-talkie and the rain arrived just on time too. It was a revealing activity though, a great confidence builder one you had placed your trust in Bernd and the car's ability. Conveniently the SLS Final Edition being used had the optional carbon ceramic brakes and the Cup spec Dunlop Sport Maxx Race tyres. The stopping power of those combined is fairly phenomenal once you've had the MTFU pep talk from Bernd and actually pushed a bit.
"Brake. Brake hard. Brake HARDER."
In amongst the turbocharged and dual-clutched future of AMG, the
C63 507 Edition
coupes us jammy sods were also allowed to drive could have felt archaic. Not a bit of it. Yes, the auto is a bit sloppy but that just means using third out of hairpins has a legitimate excuse. Traction is somewhat, er, limited in second anyway. The torque is there from low revs but it's the way such a big engine rips to beyond 7,000rpm that leaves the ridiculous grin on your face. Everyone has bleated on about the M156 V8 now but it really is something special.
Besides its engine, the W204 AMG C-Class will be remembered as an AMG great for showing that Affalterbach could do handling as well as power. It could do pretty precise on the circuit or very lairy on the skidpan, all the while communicating its movements beautifully through the steering and the seat. At that point, the 507 on track and skidpan appeared to provide the answer to that hypothetical 'what would you do with your last gallon of fuel?' question. It would probably last for two laps of each but I was convinced they would be worth it.
Best lesson ever, taught by Mr. B. Schneider
But of course that was a ridiculous and overly effusive statement; you'd do it in an SLS, obviously. There's video coming with my fast complete laps in the chain behind Bernd and it's probably quite embarrassing. With the other journo I shared passengering in the lead SLS (probably wise), I may have got a little carried away and overexcited. My defence is that it was Portimao in an SLS Final Edition; hopefully any other petrolhead would have done similar...
You should now be getting an idea of why the AMG Advanced Training is such an exceptional event. I've not even mentioned the slalom training or the data analysis or the passenger ride with Bernd. Of course it's hard not to focus on the cost but think what that money is buying: two days of professional training at a stunning track with five AMG models that you're allowed to drive as hard as possible. Trust me on that last one, your fastest will be a lot slower than the pros. I tried. Need more proof? The paying customers were already asking about 2015 events before they had even left Portugal.
More AMG Training details here.