RX-8 buyers get driving course

13 October 2003: Buyers of the new Mazda RX-8 rotary engined sports car in Britain get more than the keys of the car when they put down their cash - they also get a course in how to drive it.

The free of charge course, worth E800, is a one-to-one driver development initiative in conjunction with motorsport company Prodrive.

The one-day courses will be held on a combination of public roads and private test facilities. It will allow the Prodrive trainers to evaluate current driver skills, hone the good points and smooth the edges off bad driving habits.

The circuit facilities will replicate real-life, adverse driving conditions such as emergency braking and handling techniques, or varying wet and dry road surfaces.

Each owner can bring along a partner, colleague or family member for the day. It will allow the participants to use the RX-8s safely and responsibly to the full potential of the technology within the car and its turbocharged, high revving, twin rotor engine, and six-speed manual transmission.

Prodrive say the emphasis of its training course is very much on driver development, not instruction. So each person will have one-to-one sessions using their own new car with a member of Prodrive's team of advanced driving instructors.

©2003 irishcar.com