YouTuber Blazes the Track in AMG GT at Mercedes Driving Academy in Texas
Get an inside look at the AMG Driving Academy in Austin. From the baddest rides to the challenging track, this is quite an experience. But is it worth the hefty price tag?
Life for YouTuber TJ Hunt is pretty sweet. He recently got to spend two days at the AMG Driving Academy in Austin, Texas. While that is cool enough on its own, one of his sponsors, Meguiar’s, picked up the $4,000 tab for the Advanced Training package. He documented his experience in his latest video. Does the AMG Driving Academy live up to its rep?
Well. Yes. Of course it does.
Hunt arrives at the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin where this AMG course takes place. It is a sight to behold. Other AMG Academy locations locations are at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, and Road Atlanta in Georgia. The 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas is an especially good choice as it is home to F1 racing stateside.
Hunt is joined by his father Mickey. When they arrive, they are greeted by a tasty fleet of Mercedes-AMG cars getting ready for the day. We love the smell of gasoline in the morning.
After a brief tutorial, they get to ride. They start out doing some training exercises, learning about each car’s settings, and doing some slalom driving. Next they get into a C63 AMG GT S for the drift section of the course. He is naturally very impressed with the car.
“If I was ever to get an AMG, this would be it, the C63,” Hunt says.
The next car is the Mercedes-AMG GT R. After a few laps, Hunt notes the differences between the GT S and the GT R.
“The GT R, especially when it is 70 mph and up, you feel a major difference. It feels like it does a lot more for you…It just felt like it helped you. That’s probably the best car I’ve driven on track.”
At this point, most of the driving techniques they’re learning are fairly basic. But the thrill is driving these stunning cars on such an amazing 20-turn track.
They get track time in an E63, and then a SLS AMG GT R. Hunt is behind the wheel, while Mickey gives his thoughts on the car.
“Amazing machine. Super confident on the Circuit of the Americas. Full throttle…Really, really stable car. They’ve done a great job on the aerodynamics on this thing. Braking is superb…Badass car.”
There is not as much footage of the second day as there they driving solo. Hunt gets a good 4 hours driving solo. That’s a lot of quality track time, plus there is a competition at then end of the day.
Overall, Hunt finds that the first day focused on more driving, but with more restrictions. The second day has less driving, but with more freedom as the training wheels are off, so to speak. A good balance.
No surprise, Hunt loved the experience. He isn’t sure if it really pushed his skill, but it definitely helped enforce and refine technique and overall driver ability.
Bottom line is you get to spend two days on one of the world’s greatest tracks, hitting top speeds, and driving some of the finest cars ever crafted.
Check out the video to see more of the AMG Driving Academy experience.
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