The newest Lotus Driving Academy has a distinctly French flavor. The secluded grounds of Chateau Grand Sambuc, a medieval castle located in Provence, close the family home of Pablo Picasso in Vauvenargues are amaing in themselves, but better still, the estate boasts a private race track.
The academy officially opens on May 5, 2016, and to celebrate the opening, Lotus Driving Academy Grand Sambuc has organized a full day of activities where the press, guests, Lotus owners and enthusiasts are invited to join in the experience.
The opening event will include a presentation about the Lotus Driving Academy, track driving activity including hot laps and demo laps, coaching, and demonstrations from Le Mans record holder Henri Pescarolo and fellow Le Mans winner Stéphane Ortelli.
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, said, “Ensuring as many people as possible get the opportunity to enjoy the pure driving experience of a Lotus sports car is at the center of the Lotus Driving Academy’s mission. This popularity has meant that we now have official Lotus Driving Academies in Malaysia, the USA and of course at the home of Lotus in Hethel, Norfolk. This new Lotus Driving Academy in Grand Sambuc will offer an unbeatable experience on a challenging track in some of the best giant slaying sports and super cars you can drive.”
Situated on a 2km (1.24 miles) track with 10 corners, linked by elevation changes (pictured below), the Grand Sambuc track will present a challenge, with customers able to drive the Lotus range, including the Lotus Elise Cup R and Exige 360 Cup.
From an Elise Experience all the way up to personal one-on-one training, the Lotus Driving Academy will also offer the Lotus Licence: two days of intense track training. The first Lotus Licence Level 1 will be held on May 7, 2016.
