Jaguar renames and expands its performance driving school

What do you get for the man or woman who has everything, including a 500-hp sports car from Jaguar? If you want to keep them alive we’d suggest the newly renamed Jaguar R Performance Driving Academy.

Jaguar renamed its driving school on Tuesday and also expanded it to four locations in the United States this year, offering both basic and advanced courses.

The original Jaguar Performance Driving Academy was launched in 2009 as a complementary gift when buying a Jaguar XKR, XFR, XJ Supersport and XKR-S model. The program allows a full day of driving with the brand’s high-performance models. This gives customers and students a chance to learn more about the cars, sharpen their driving skills and satisfy their need for speed, according to Jaguar.

The basic course is $1,850 for nonowners and free for buyers of the fast models. The advanced course costs $2,495 for all students.

The courses both begin with a welcome reception the night before the event. Participants can meet each other, show off their Jags and do a little bench racing. The fun begins the next morning.

Jaguar says it relates the on-track exercises to real-life situations, making drivers more aware of their surroundings. The basic course includes:

-- Maximum-acceleration and launch exercises using different Jaguar Drive Control settings

-- Braking exercises with antilock-braking-system drills

-- Emergency lane-change maneuvers

-- Dynamic mode and dynamic stability control off handling exercises

-- Cornering drills

-- Autocross and slalom course

-- Full track laps at speed with a driving coach and hot laps with racing drivers

If drivers have completed the basic Jaguar course, or an equivalent program, they can enroll in the advanced course. The advanced course features training from world-renown driving instructors. It includes more sophisticated car-control maneuvers, such as:

-- Threshold braking exercises

-- High-speed cornering exercises

-- Skidpad maneuvers

-- Handling oval

-- Low-speed handling course

This year’s classes will be held at:

-- May 9-12: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas

-- Sept. 11-14: Lime Rock Park Raceway in Lakeville, Conn.

-- Oct. 11-14: Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas

-- Dec. 10-13: Homestead Miami Speedway in Miami

By Jake Lingeman