Driving with Gary Marsh
/I attended a brilliant driving skills test Day at Abingdon on Friday 28 June 19, for rear wheel drive sports cars. I found myself in a coaching class of just three cars. A 2005 996GT3, 2003 Ferrari F1 360F1 Modena and my 718 Boxster GTS.
This is the second such course I’ve attended organised by Gary Marsh. That last one being one year ago in the Macan at the same venue.
What I like is Gary is very practical and hands on and helps you maximise the potential of your car. He is a coach.....and when you know his background it’s rather fun to think he is helping you become a better driver. He told the story of driving Eau Rouge at Spa at 215mph... back to the day.
On the track around Gary’s set course, I managed a marginal win in time at 1:35.9 minute (. ) some 1 tenth of a second faster than the GT3 and some 1.8 sec ahead of the Ferrari. This was a tight course and as such the GTS was able to be more nimble especially around the roundabout section and through the snake section and the chicane in the main straight.
But this course is not all about delivering a fast time it’s about understanding how the get the best from you car and how to drive well around corners, chicanes and other skills tests that Gary presents.
How to brake, steer brake and then park. Using the wide open spaces it makes you understand how incredibly capable modern cars are when equipped with ASB, they are very impressive kit. Can I really do an emergency stop from 90mph and park the car on a sixpence in dummy garage without hitting the back wall. Yes, I can.
I found the driving fast around corners to be most enjoyable. Finding the optimal speed to get around the corner. How to approach the corner! It’s how he makes you find the optimal speed that’s the enjoyable and learning element. Then how to set the car up to hit the right corner speed and then use its natural turning ability to pull the car to the apex and the hit the accelerator pedal on the exit. To achieve an optimal corner experience. Fast in and Fast out.