The two-seat Panoz GT-RA was designed and built to be a legitimate, competitive racecar, so it doesn’t have doors. You climb feet-first in through the window, and strap yourself in to a six-point harness.
Then, sit back and enjoy your Hot Laps adventure on the Road Atlanta racetrack.
The massive 5.0 liter V8 engine makes lots of noise as it powers through turns, and the race-tuned suspension even rattles your brain just a bit.
The Panoz Racing School at Road Atlanta raceway trains drivers for racing in GT racecars, and also teaches safe driving and handling techniques. The “regular” driver training is done in “regular” new Audi models. The Audi Driving Experience teaches you how to steer yourself out of a skid and why you should not brake and turn at the same time, and a lot more.
I truly believe that taking such a course will make you a better driver, perhaps even save your life. I have learned a lot from pro driving instructors, and, yes, some of the tips I learned may really and truly have saved me from being in a fender-bender, or worse.
But let’s get back to the racecourse. The pro driver takes those turns far faster and more safely than you ever will, including hurtling down the straightaway at up to 140 mph and screeching the tires on tight turns.
My driver couldn’t see my smile through my full-face helmet, but he could see my regular thumbs up signs.
The Hot Laps experience is three times around the 2.54 mile track.
The next Hot Laps experience is the weekend of March 3 and 4, and costs $75. Hot Laps is only at Road Atlanta. The Audi Driving Experience is also at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.
Read my article on the Land Rover Off-Road Driving School for more about safe driving techniques.
And check out Jeremy Dunn's Auto Racing pages here on Suite 101, for news about such world-famous races as the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
Copyright Evelyn Kanter and Suite 101. All rights reserved.
