The best way to really appreciate the performance and drivability of a vehicle is to drive it your self under the coaching and guidance of a professional racecar driver —who’s sitting right next to you! DG Spec designed such a program, from soup to nuts, for the 2018 Toyota Camry and Toyota 86 to demonstrate vehicle dynamics, car control and refined driving techniques.
Toyota’s guest drivers were seasoned automotive industry writers, editors and photographers and the event was held at the Streets of Willow International Racetrack in Rosamond, CA. It was an intense day of training with a majority of the time spent behind the wheel on the track…going fast!
Each participant practiced the following exercises in both the Camry and the 86 to compare and contrast the behavior of front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive vehicles respectively: skid pad steering, lane change & ABS stability/maneuverability and driving line apex cornering techniques. Additional focus was placed on refining down-road vision skills, weight transfer and VSC + TRAC On/Off.
Of the many accolades from the satisfied guests, this one says it all, “ The instruction by Toyota’s pro-drivers was all I could ask for. They saw my skills and deficits and adapted to make me a better and more confident driver. It was rad as hell.” Jonathon Klein: Associate Editor
