I see Stephen Verdier’s R8 in front of me braking hard as he enters the braking zone before the carousel turn, I do the same to maintain the three car distance. I feel the awesome stopping power of the 8-piston calipers pressing hard against the cross drilled ceramic discs slowing down the R8 in a few eye blinks. I push the clutch and shift the gear lever to the third slot. The car revs up performing engine braking, I ease the brake entered the apex and start to accelerate as I fixed my eyes toward my exit point – the technique that they’ve been teaching us all morning- that will carry me at the fastest possible speed through this G-force producing turn at the Infineon raceway.

Infineon raceway is where international champions are born and breakthrough technologies are proven. During the race, high-adrenaline actions happen at the chicanes, decreasing radius turns, hairpins, and switchbacks. Competition runs high. Everyone in the battle field is fighting for the first place. At the end of the day, racing teams and spectators are celebrating and sharing motor-racing passion with friends and families.

Stephen - a World Rally Championship (WRC) race driver - and I zip through the carousel in the R8 at speeds which would throw many self-proclaimed sport cars into a category five hurricane spin. As soon as Stephen hits the apex, I notice his R8 accelerating at a mind bending rate as if it is about to reach escape velocity.

“Flat out, flat out on this stretch,” Stephen instructs us through the two-way radio.

I try to keep up; pressing the accelerator to the floor, shifting to fourth and fifth, while the melodious 420 horses from the firewall behind me provides the soundtrack. It pushes my spine firmly against the Recaro seat.

As the speedometer needle is reaching the area that is reserved to only 1% of the population, we are entering the switch backs followed by a hair pain turn. This is my fourth lap in this R8. I know better now that I do not need to slow down to devour the switchback. And I can wait as late as possible to apply the cross-drilled ceramic brakes to enter the hairpin safely. I struggle with my daily common sense. The black markings on the concrete barriers remind me of the F-1 catastrophic accident where parts of the car were flying in omni direction. My fear creeps in despite the three hour training I had earlier before the team of instructors approved me to drive solo the precious R8.

As soon as I take my eyes off the speedometer, my perception changes immediately as I actually lose the reference of extraordinary speed. I keep my eyes high looking at where I need to go. I let my peripheral vision to handle the minute details of the immediate surrounding.

In the six piece Jazz orchestra, there are multiple sounds playing in their corresponding tracks making a harmonious melody. The firm Aluminum Space Frame (ASF) and the magnetic ride damper suspension system of the R8 inspire the confidence in me. The low center of gravity, the balanced weight distribution of this mid-mounted engine R8, the legendary Quattro, and the race-car steering enable me to be one with the car and feel the tarmac underneath me. Like Jazz, the sum of the R8 mechanical parts makes a harmonious ensemble.

As I focus my mind on where I need to go and incorporate the sense of confidence that this R8 instills in me, I lose the sense of anticipation; the source of fear. I see things outside this diamond-and-tiara-quality R8 interior move in slow motion. I am in the moment enjoying every fraction of seconds driving this engineering masterpiece.

I am dancing and the Infineon raceway is my dance floor. And the two banks of four provide the harmonious melody to dance to. At this moment, all expectations that had been built up by auto journalists and Audi marketing department become reality for me. They are no longer words. They are experiences. Better than best!

How It All Began

The morning air was balmy and the temperature was at the level which would make San Franciscan night-out crowds shiver. The sun hung right in the mid point between the horizon and the zenith. The morning sun beaming through the high cumulus clouds created rays of lights resembling the pillars of heaven.

The quite morning was interrupted by the sound of screeching tires. The burning rubber smell immediately filled the air. There was no crashing sound after that. Instead, a sonorous burble of 420 hp V8 FSI bounced of the gigantic gray metal structure that makes up the main podium of Infineon raceway in the southern Sonoma Mountains, California. I turned my head to look for the source of this commotion. There, among the orange cones, in the parking lot behind the podium, the silver exotic Audi R8 was performing a gracious slalom at what seems to be an impossible speed for the mini auto cross track.

Behind this salivating scene, rows of 2007 Audi TTs, A4s, A6s, A8s, RS4s, Q7s, and more of R8’s were lined up with the precision of German railway time table. I felt like I was eight again playing all day long with my 1/64 die cast Hot Wheels. I couldn’t wait for my Audi Driving Experience session to start.

Audi Driving Experience

I followed the “Registration” sign which took me to the brand new red metal hangar structure. The exterior and interior are contemporary in design; it embodies the engineering spirit and the human endeavor for progress. This building hosts the Audi Driving Experience hospitality, registration, and driving instruction centers for Northern California. The other centers are Homestead Miami Speedway, Florida, Autobahn Country Club, Illinois, Pocono Raceway, Philadelphia, and California Speedway, California.

I am always a big fan of the Audi Driving Experience. I’ve attended some of the most popular European programs; the Audi Winter Driving Experience in Seefeld, Austria, and the Audi RS4 Circuit de Catalunya Experience in Barcelona, Spain. It is a nice surprise that Audi brings this widely successful program to this side of the pond.

After three hours of practicing emergency braking in A4 3.2 Q S-line, high-speed lane change in A6 4.2 Q S-line, and auto crossing in TT 3.2 Q DSG, 3.6 Q7, and 4.2 Q A8L, I was finally ready to experience the Infineon raceway from inside the cockpits of 4.2 FSI 420HP RS4 and R8.

Memorable Moment

Many compare the R8 to exotic cars. When I see exotic cars driving down the Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, I am reminded of super models walking down the catwalk; glamorous, nothing more and nothing less. When I see the R8 driving down the same road, I see a beautiful and toned athlete who has accomplished what most people consider the impossible.

Many good childhood experiences were imprinted in my memory. They are always there for me to retrieve them whenever I feel stressed out from the marry-go-around of daily living. They are also my source of inspirations as, like many other kids, I dreamt many fun and magical things.

I will definitely remember the R8 for a very long time because this magnificent and extraordinary car wakes up the child in me. It allows me to dream fun and magical things again. The R8 is not just an engineering master piece, but it is also a magnificent arts. Furthermore, an object that can wake your senses and inspire you to dream must have a soul. An inspiring soul, the R8 has.

I see Stephen Verdier’s R8 in front of me braking hard as he enters the braking zone before the carousel turn, I do the same to maintain the three car distance. I feel the awesome stopping power of the 8-piston calipers pressing hard against the cross drilled ceramic discs slowing down the R8 in a few eye blinks. I push the clutch and shift the gear lever to the third slot. The car revs up performing engine braking, I ease the brake entered the apex and start to accelerate as I fixed my eyes toward my exit point – the technique that they’ve been teaching us all morning- that will carry me at the fastest possible speed through this G-force producing turn at the Infineon raceway.

Infineon raceway is where international champions are born and breakthrough technologies are proven. During the race, high-adrenaline actions happen at the chicanes, decreasing radius turns, hairpins, and switchbacks. Competition runs high. Everyone in the battle field is fighting for the first place. At the end of the day, racing teams and spectators are celebrating and sharing motor-racing passion with friends and families.

Stephen - a World Rally Championship (WRC) race driver - and I zip through the carousel in the R8 at speeds which would throw many self-proclaimed sport cars into a category five hurricane spin. As soon as Stephen hits the apex, I notice his R8 accelerating at a mind bending rate as if it is about to reach escape velocity.

“Flat out, flat out on this stretch,” Stephen instructs us through the two-way radio.

I try to keep up; pressing the accelerator to the floor, shifting to fourth and fifth, while the melodious 420 horses from the firewall behind me provides the soundtrack. It pushes my spine firmly against the Recaro seat.

As the speedometer needle is reaching the area that is reserved to only 1% of the population, we are entering the switch backs followed by a hair pain turn. This is my fourth lap in this R8. I know better now that I do not need to slow down to devour the switchback. And I can wait as late as possible to apply the cross-drilled ceramic brakes to enter the hairpin safely. I struggle with my daily common sense. The black markings on the concrete barriers remind me of the F-1 catastrophic accident where parts of the car were flying in omni direction. My fear creeps in despite the three hour training I had earlier before the team of instructors approved me to drive solo the precious R8.

As soon as I take my eyes off the speedometer, my perception changes immediately as I actually lose the reference of extraordinary speed. I keep my eyes high looking at where I need to go. I let my peripheral vision to handle the minute details of the immediate surrounding.

In the six piece Jazz orchestra, there are multiple sounds playing in their corresponding tracks making a harmonious melody. The firm Aluminum Space Frame (ASF) and the magnetic ride damper suspension system of the R8 inspire the confidence in me. The low center of gravity, the balanced weight distribution of this mid-mounted engine R8, the legendary Quattro, and the race-car steering enable me to be one with the car and feel the tarmac underneath me. Like Jazz, the sum of the R8 mechanical parts makes a harmonious ensemble.

As I focus my mind on where I need to go and incorporate the sense of confidence that this R8 instills in me, I lose the sense of anticipation; the source of fear. I see things outside this diamond-and-tiara-quality R8 interior move in slow motion. I am in the moment enjoying every fraction of seconds driving this engineering masterpiece.

I am dancing and the Infineon raceway is my dance floor. And the two banks of four provide the harmonious melody to dance to. At this moment, all expectations that had been built up by auto journalists and Audi marketing department become reality for me. They are no longer words. They are experiences. Better than best!

How It All Began

The morning air was balmy and the temperature was at the level which would make San Franciscan night-out crowds shiver. The sun hung right in the mid point between the horizon and the zenith. The morning sun beaming through the high cumulus clouds created rays of lights resembling the pillars of heaven.

The quite morning was interrupted by the sound of screeching tires. The burning rubber smell immediately filled the air. There was no crashing sound after that. Instead, a sonorous burble of 420 hp V8 FSI bounced of the gigantic gray metal structure that makes up the main podium of Infineon raceway in the southern Sonoma Mountains, California. I turned my head to look for the source of this commotion. There, among the orange cones, in the parking lot behind the podium, the silver exotic Audi R8 was performing a gracious slalom at what seems to be an impossible speed for the mini auto cross track.

Behind this salivating scene, rows of 2007 Audi TTs, A4s, A6s, A8s, RS4s, Q7s, and more of R8’s were lined up with the precision of German railway time table. I felt like I was eight again playing all day long with my 1/64 die cast Hot Wheels. I couldn’t wait for my Audi Driving Experience session to start.

Audi Driving Experience

I followed the “Registration” sign which took me to the brand new red metal hangar structure. The exterior and interior are contemporary in design; it embodies the engineering spirit and the human endeavor for progress. This building hosts the Audi Driving Experience hospitality, registration, and driving instruction centers for Northern California. The other centers are Homestead Miami Speedway, Florida, Autobahn Country Club, Illinois, Pocono Raceway, Philadelphia, and California Speedway, California.

I am always a big fan of the Audi Driving Experience. I’ve attended some of the most popular European programs; the Audi Winter Driving Experience in Seefeld, Austria, and the Audi RS4 Circuit de Catalunya Experience in Barcelona, Spain. It is a nice surprise that Audi brings this widely successful program to this side of the pond.

After three hours of practicing emergency braking in A4 3.2 Q S-line, high-speed lane change in A6 4.2 Q S-line, and auto crossing in TT 3.2 Q DSG, 3.6 Q7, and 4.2 Q A8L, I was finally ready to experience the Infineon raceway from inside the cockpits of 4.2 FSI 420HP RS4 and R8.

Memorable Moment

Many compare the R8 to exotic cars. When I see exotic cars driving down the Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, I am reminded of super models walking down the catwalk; glamorous, nothing more and nothing less. When I see the R8 driving down the same road, I see a beautiful and toned athlete who has accomplished what most people consider the impossible.

Many good childhood experiences were imprinted in my memory. They are always there for me to retrieve them whenever I feel stressed out from the marry-go-around of daily living. They are also my source of inspirations as, like many other kids, I dreamt many fun and magical things.

I will definitely remember the R8 for a very long time because this magnificent and extraordinary car wakes up the child in me. It allows me to dream fun and magical things again. The R8 is not just an engineering master piece, but it is also a magnificent arts. Furthermore, an object that can wake your senses and inspire you to dream must have a soul. An inspiring soul, the R8 has.