For the past decade, the NCM Motorsports Park has been the definitive destination for some truly remarkable Corvette driving experiences. Between offering a variety of available tour laps packages (in both their cars and yours), open track sessions, and HPDI/HPDE events, there has never been a shortage of opportunity to test your mettle on the park’s 3.2-mile road course.
But now, the NCM Motorsports Park has created a tiered driving school experience specially developed for Corvette enthusiasts and/or car fanatics of all skill levels looking to improve their abilities in a fun, educational environment. Each of these programs help drivers gain greater familiarity with the MSP’s track while mastering driving fundamentals that will increase their proficiency and speed.
Each of the Driving Academy programs (there are three total) utilize a combination of classroom learning, paddock activities and on-track exercises to fully immerse attendees in a program that provide high-performance driving behind the wheel of either an eighth-generation Z51 Stingray or the all-new C8 Corvette Z06. Each program utilizes a different track configuration (East Course, West Course, or Grand Full), ensuring a unique experience for every skill level.
In April 2024, I was invited to participate in the MSP’s Level One Driving Academy program. Having previously completed both an HPDI and HPDE program at the NCM Motorsports Park, I approached the Level One Driving Academy program with a mindset that I would be attending an “HPD ‘Lite'” training experience. While (in some respects) that is exactly what this program turned out to be, it was also a far more immersive driving/coaching experience than expected.
The two-hour experience stared with a 20-minute introductory session led by MSP General Manager Zach Rackovan. In that session, Zach outlined what the class participants should expect to learn during their two-hour Driving Academy program and discussed the curriculum for the remainder of the program – which included three (3) additional classroom sessions, one (1) paddock drill, and two (2) on-track high-performance driving sessions.
At the completion of our introductory session, the class was escorted out to the track paddock where we selected the Corvettes we’d be driving for the duration of the program. I selected a 2024 Z51 Stingray finished in Sea Wolf Grey. That done, we posed for pictures with our cars (taken by the talented Cole Carroll) and then proceeded to lineup for our first driving session – running cones in the paddock to gain greater familiarity with the driving dynamics of our Corvettes!
Running the Corvette in the safety of a Autocross-style, coned-off driving course allowed each of the student drivers an opportunity to open up their car in a safe, controlled environment. It allowed us to push our limits (and comfort levels) to ensure that we had a genuine sense of what our car’s were capable of – during acceleration, when cornerning, etc. Each of us (there were three student drivers total) ran the course multiple times, and each time we were encouraged to push our cars a little harder until, by the end of that first session, we were really carving through the turns and pushing our individual limits!
Upon returning to the classroom, Zach continued his instruction, coaching each of us on topics like “weight transfer in turns” and “understanding the best drive line on track.” Again, while none of this was new ground for me, it was a great refresher and was communicated very effectively by Mr. Rackovan. What’s more, the engagement between teacher and students created a safe, inclusive learning environment for all involved….which, frankly, has always been one of my favorite differentiators of the experiences hosted/taught at the NCM Motorsports Park.
With our second classroom session completed, each of us grabbed our helmets before being partnered up with a professional driving instructor for the first of our one-to-one track coaching sessions. Utilizing a lead-follow format (with the instructor piloting the lead car), each student driver was guided out onto the race track for some truly spirited driving on the MSP’s West Track.
One of the great things about the driving instruction offered during this event is that each of the instructors knows how to tailor the skills being practiced to the driving proficiencies (or lack thereof) of the student drivers. For someone experiencing the racetrack for the first time, the skills practiced on the track will help that individual begin to gain confidence on the track as they begin to develop some fundamental skills related to navigating turns, accelerating, braking, etc. For a student with more experience/ability, their instructor will push them to go faster, to accelerate a little sooner, brake a little later, and really begin to incorporate skills that will improve their lap times. No, you won’t set any lap records during these sessions, but you will certainly find yourself pushing the envelope a bit more with each, successive lap.
After running out on the track for twenty minutes (and believe me, that time goes by QUICKLY), the cars return to the paddocks, and each student receives a debrief of their previous driving session. The feedback received is specific, providing recommendations on skills that were performed well and suggestions for improvement during the next session.
At the completion of the debriefs, it’s back to the classroom for another 20-minute coaching session. As before, participants receive additional, valuable instruction on their cars and the racetrack. The instruction offered during the final classroom coaching session builds on the earlier sessions and the experiences from the first on-track driving session.
Then it’s back to the track for a final 20-minute showdown in the same lead-follow format as the first track session. For most students, this second session solidifies everything that was coached and/or practiced throughout the earlier sessions. Student drivers return to the track feeling a greater level of confidence as they integrate their training into their driving experience, thereby improving their speeds and “best line” on the racetrack.
If I had to provide any criticism about the Level 1 Driving Academy at the NCM Motorsports Park, it would be this…this entire session goes by much too quickly! In truth, this isn’t a criticism at all – it’s a testament to the first-rate experience that each student has while attending this event. Here’s a little bonus – admission to the MSP’s Driving Academy Level 1 includes a lunch voucher to the Stingray Grill and one admission to the National Corvette Museum.
There are still several dates throughout the remainder of 2024 for anyone looking to participate in the Level 1 Driving Academy. What’s more, there are a couple of options available to students when registering for the class. For anyone looking to drive one of the MSP‘s brand-new, mid-engine C8 Z51 Corvette Stingrays, registration for the class is $846.94. If you are looking to “up your game” a bit and want to take this course while piloting the brand-new, mid-engine Corvette Z06, you can do that too – and at $1,906.94, you’ll never find a more affordable opportunity to drive this truly remarkable supercar!
For an additional registration fee of $30, participants may bring a guest to participate in the classroom portion of the Driving Academy. Said admission also includes an additional lunch voucher for the Stingray Grill and one additional admission to the National Corvette Museum. For a separate fee, your guest can also put on a helmet and experience the thrill of traversing the racetrack with a professional driver. This single, 20-minute ride along track session will have them on the edge of their seat!
