Thanks Easy_rider.
The course was probably the best holiday i have ever had ! (Don't tell the wife).
On the course we were divided into six groups with approx 10 people in every group.
The break down was as follows:-
First task was for us all to have three runs in a Cayman S with PDK and drive a slalom course as fast as possible with a prize for the best time. We were allowed to use launch control on the Cayman ! That poor car did approx 180 launch controls in one day !!!!! (Take note Nissan, this did not spoil the warranty !!!)
Second task was to paractice high speed direction changes on the Suzuka bend at the top end of the circuit with PSM off. This was to teach us how to control rapid direction changes with no braking. Great fun !!!
After lunch we practiced high speed emergency stopping (upto 120 KPH) and cone avoidance. (Got a bit boring in the end as we al know how good Porsche brakes are !!!!)
We then took a break and went on the offroad track in Cayennes, al taking turns to drive. This was one of the best elements... The car is fab off road, and the circuit is huge....
Last event on day one was to practice overster and understeer control on the wet circuit, including drifting.... This was good fun and the one AMG 550 Merc on the course had a lot of fun drifting...
Day two morning consisted of a factory tour where we got to look at the Panamera and Cayenne construction. This was on Sunday so the factory was closed and hence we could get closer (No photos allowed inside !). What was interesting is that i never knew that only the marriage and final completion of the Cayenne is done onsite. The Cayenne arrives with all the interior and electrics assembled.
After the tour we returned to our cars and in our groups separated to all tack turns at different parts of the circuit find the correct lines and breaking points. This consisted of doing repeated runs of the chosen bends following the instructors in a Carrera S. Each member of the group followed the instructors car in a long line. When the person at the head of the line completed the run behind the instructor they would fall to the back of the queue, we would then all turn around and go back to the start of the bend and repeat.
We then had a break for lunch and a chance to walk around the shop and display of cars on the top floor of the diamond building.
After lunch we returned to our groups and followed the instructors car in a long line around the complete circuit, pulling over at the start finish line to let the next car in the group take position behind the instructor.
After this we all paused and went back for a safety briefing before being allowed two 15 minute slots on the circuit on our own. No more than two groups were on the circuit at once and as the circuit is so large i never got close to more than two other cars.
At the end of the day the final exercise was taxi runs with our instructors. These guys can drive !!! My instructor was 21 years old and also a prototype tester for Porsche R&D.