Lexus Performance Driving School Lets You Hot Lap Laguna Seca

Checking the List

For many of us, getting a chance to hot lap the legendary Laguna Seca is certainly a bucket list item. But unless you live somewhere in or near California, perhaps the logistics of getting your car there is preventing you from checking it off the list. But now, Lexus Performance Driving School is giving you the chance to drive an RC F, GS F and LC 500 around the iconic circuit. 

Photos: Autoweek

Best Case Scenario

The folks at Autoweek were lucky enough to participate in this one-day school recently, and they certainly came away impressed. "In many ways, it’s just like a regular driving school," they noted. "Where you learn about understeer, oversteer and the proper line through a corner. You may have learned that already. But what you haven’t learned is that you can hightail it around this iconic racetrack in a Lexus and have a blast doing it." 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Fun Above All

Of course, it doesn't hurt that legendary racer Scott Pruett was in attendance. Who better to explain things like braking points and racing lines than a guy with a ridiculous number of professional championships to his name? But even with this important classwork, the focus is still on the experience. “You’re gonna have fun, like it or not,” Pruett told his students. 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Sideways Fun

But the best part about this class might just be the machines you get to drive. All three of the LC 500, RC F, and GS F are V8-powered, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive machines. And that, friends, is a recipe for some sideways fun on a race track. 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Various Activities

Participants head out to a skid pad, infield autocross track, and lead-follow exercises on Laguna Seca itself for various lessons including what Lexus calls vision principles, vehicle control, driving confidence, the racing line, and ultra-performance. 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Speed Limits

Just how fast you get to go depends on a variety of circumstances, according to Autoweek. "Our group was broken up into two, with one bunch going on the infield and the other around the track. I got the track first. Two cars followed an instructor at speed. How fast you get to go depends on how good you and the other student in your three-car caravan are. 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Chose Wisely

Regardless, it sounds like you're going to have a good experience. "So the trick is to get behind a fast instructor and -- more importantly -- a fast student. I got pretty good pairings for every track session and went just about as fast as I can go on this track. You can certainly understand them not just turning new students loose out there to plummet through the Corkscrew all on their own, but this is a fast compromise that really won’t leave you disappointed, especially if you pick the right fellow drivers." 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Pick Your Favorite

It sounds like the hardest decision you have to make is picking a favorite car. "Both the RC F and the LC 500 were surprisingly agile and quick. Both have a top speed listed at 168 mph (!), but the LC 500 gets to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.4 seconds versus 4.5 for the RC F. The LC 500 weighs more, 4,280 pounds versus 4,034 for the RC F. But I preferred the LC on the track. Maybe I like the looks better, who knows?" 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

No Better Place

And is there really a track you'd rather race any of them on? "Laguna Seca -- excuse me, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca -- is still one of my favorite tracks anywhere in the world, and any opportunity to drive on it is special. You could take a driving school elsewhere on a less-iconic, much less-fun track and pay just as much money. So you might as well do this one on this track." 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

Taking the Plunge

It's not as if we didn't already want to participate in Lexus' Performance Driving School, but reading this just makes it worse. If you feel the same way, registration for 2020 events is already underway. So head over here, take the plunge, and mark another item off your to-do list! 

Photos: Autoweek

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus Performance Driving School right here in Club Lexus.

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