Ice Driving
It has been a while, more than five years, since we trained ‘on the ice’. It is a special feeling, to control the latest technology, sliding sideways in a snow covered forest.
An experience unlike any other, with over 8 hours of seat time each day, you leave feeling mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted, but full of the exhilaration, excitement and memories.
Day One
Briefing over; understeer - you see what you hit, oversteer - you hear what you hit, and a reminder of the load shifting depending on turning, breaking, accelerating and we were ready to get going.
At the Ice Force Pro level we swap drive different platforms, all with 4mm spikes; the 4WD Turbo, the mid engine GT4, the GT3 and some fun in the all-electric Taycan Turbo S.
We start off in the Turbo’s and head for the paddocks to get our brains back into gear again. Our drills for the morning include slaloms, drifting (2 circles) and a mix of both, before heading for the handling tracks.
With long sunrises, then sunsets, the end of the day quickly descends into darkness, as we rotated into the GT3 and the handling tracks. The day leaves us wanting more.
The Ice Experience Motto: Sleep, Drift, Repeat
Day Two
Back for more. Well rested and ready to go. The morning spent in GT4 tested our mid-engine skills, which require quick handling and a different sense of how far to push, and when. We graduated to our first forest track, needing greater accuracy deep in the trees and undulating tracks.
An afternoon back in the Turbo S, pushing for speed and skill, practising, practising.
Then sleep, before more drifting.
Day Three
By now, you are consciously competent, or incompetent. You know what you are doing wrong, you are honing the glitches, looking for the balance of speed, control and drift. Trying new things to see what works.
Today was a GT3 day, which feels easier and more in control, with the two-wheel drive, rear engine setup. The power and predictability of the handling are just as you expect, compared to the mid-engined GT4, or the power feed of the Turbo S, with its 640 bhp and 800Nm of torque.
The forest tracks gave plenty of challenge, with adverse cambers, undulations and slaloms through the trees.
A final rotation back to the Turbo S and we were done. Until next time!
