PACE CADETS: AT THE AMG ACADEMY, STUDENTS TAKE THEIR FINALS WITH THEIR RIGHT FEET

摘要

MERCEDES-BENZ USA LAUNCHED THE AMG Challenge in 2002, a program touted as "a chance to experience the thrill of driving the newest Mercedes AMGs on some of America's best racetracks." This year, MBUSA abandoned the Challenge in favor of the AMG Driving Academy, a multistage driver-development program pioneered by AMG in Europe. The difference? According to Greg Clark, AMG manager, "the Challenge was more about the cars, while the Academy is more about the driver." Having participated in both the Challenge and now the Academy, we'd say that difference is subtle, at least as it applies to the one-day program. Stage II, which we didn't get to do, includes in-car data collection and head-to-head competition and promises to be much more intense.