June 2014

Explore Sonoma in Style

Proving emphatically that the Audi sportscar experience isn’t all about the track, the Roads of Sonoma experience puts you behind the wheel of one of Audi’s flagship sports cars, the awesome R8, and unleashes you on the breathtaking Sonoma coast.

If you can tear yourself away from the driver’s seat, the day also includes stops to take in some unforgettable scenic photo opportunities and a gourmet lunch at a thoroughly unique destination.

Discover how this world-famous wine region came to be, taste local fare, and find out why the Audi R8 has received so many accolades. Find out more about the Audi sportscar experience’s Roads of Sonoma experience at www.audisportscarexperience.com.

New Sim Car: Jaguar D-Type

Take to the tracks in Simraceway‘s latest virtual release, the Jaguar D-Type, free this weekend! Find out more on our Online Racing World blog, or read on to view our new car.

(more…)

PDC/ASCE Instructors: Andrew Shoen

Andrew started competing on motocross bikes when he was eight. In the late 80s and early 90s, he attended racing schools in both California and Arizona, successfully competing in SCCA Improved Touring and garnering multiple wins and podium finishes. By 1998 he was running Pro-7 (spec RX-7) and continuing his winning ways.

One of our lead instructors, Andrew has been involved in numerous OEM events and tours throughout the years.  He coaches drivers in numerous racing series and helps facilitate manufacturer training events. For more than a decade Andrew has also used his unparalleled experience behind the wheel to help save the lives of America’s youth, contributing to a non-profit teen-driving program.

The Cost of Speed on the World’s Fastest Highways

We came across this great–if sobering–infographic the other day, illustrating the speed limits and accident statistics on some of the planet’s fastest roads. Assembled using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Forbes, and USA Today, it puts in stark perspective the human cost of pushing cars to the limit on public highways.

Here at the PDC, we would always advise drivers to save their “need for speed” for the track–but if think you, or someone close to you, would benefit from comprehensive and professional instruction on how to increase their safety on the highway, our Safe Driver Training courses do exactly that. Find out more or talk to us by clicking the red tab in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Sim Car Spotlight: Instructors Choice Bundle

One of Simraceway Online Racing World‘s Car Bundles–themed collections of virtual cars that can be downloaded quickly and cost-effectively–the Instructors Choice Bundle comprises cars personally selected by PDC instructors, from the McLaren MP4/4 and BMW M1 Procar to the Mazda 787 and Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’.To discover more about the reasons behind the Bundle’s classic constituents, check out our Online Racing World blog. To view the Bundle itself, head to the Simraceway ORW website.

(more…)

PDC/ASCE Instructors: Tony Brakohiapa

Tony has been a professional race driver for more than a decade. His wide-ranging experience includes open-wheel, stock car, sportscar, touring car, and kart racing, and he’s also competed in the Formula Drift National Championship. Competition has taken him all over the world, including appearances at the Yas Marina Formula One circuit in Abu Dhabi, Qatar’s Al-Anabi racetrack and the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

As well as working as a private driving coach for various vintage, Ferrari Challenge, Rolex and American Le Mans Series teams, Tony is also an accomplished film and TV stunt driver. He recently took part in the movies Jack Reacher, which starred Tom Cruise, and Need for Speed.

Silicon Valley Converges on the PDC

The PDC hosted ConnectedCarSV’s latest drive day on May 22. Over 50 Silicon Valley founders, VCs and tech execs enjoyed the group’s latest Sonoma outing. Head to connectedcarsv.com to view photos from a successful day out.

New Sim Car: Nissan GT-R GT3

Ever fancied putting NISMO’s 2012 flyer to the test around Sonoma–or another of our sim racing game’s world-famous circuits? This weekend, you can race the Nissan GT-R GT3 for free! Find out more on our Online Racing World blog, or read on to view our new virtual racer.

(more…)

Jim Russell F3 Racing Series – Race 6

With the tarmac getting ever stickier on a scorching day for race 6 of the 2014 Simraceway F3 series It wasn’t going to take long for the Pirelli tires to get to working temperature nor as it came to be the drivers heating up the action on track. Race 6 saw a new poleman as Tim Adolphson put in a flyer late in qualifying to out gun fellow front row starter Doug Tuttle.

Click here to read a full race report and view the race gallery and leaderboard.

Superkarts! USA Returns to Sonoma

SKUSA headed back to Sonoma in style last weekend with the Simraceway Performance Karting Center hosting Round 4 of the California ProKart Challenge. With over 130 entrants, including 25 S1 Class drivers, and hundreds more watching, two beautiful Californian days saw a host of fiercely-fought, exciting contests. Read on to find out more!

(more…)

Jim Russell F3 Racing Series – Race 5

As the hot sun of Sonoma in June baked the track, the Hammer Nutrition station was kept busy as each driver new it was going to be a long hot race 5 of the Simraceway F3 series. With some of the main protagonists unavailable Chase Murray had it all his own way in qualifying , but all eyes were on the battle for the other positions as lap by lap grid positions swapped back and forth , and in a last lap charge Doug Tuttle secured the other  illustrious front row spot.

Click here to read a full race report and view the race gallery and leaderboard.

PDC/ASCE Instructors: Jeff Westphal

Audi sportscar experience and Simraceway Performance Driving Center instructor Jeff Westphal is a highly-successful pro driver. He has acquired championships and track records in both open-wheel and sports car disciplines, experiencing the former up to the current Indy Lights car, and the latter up to Rolex GT.

Currently racing for Scuderia Corsa in the #63 Ferrari 458 GT, he has run at the front of talented fields for a number of years. On top of Jeff’s speedy ascent within the racing community, he is also a mine of knowledge when it comes to car setup and data acquisition, which makes him an invaluable asset to any team.

PDC Instructor Triumphs in Motor City

Simraceway Performance Driving Center instructor Jeff Westphal grabbed an impressive GTD class victory in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday.

Along with team-mate Alessandro Balzan, Jeff drove his no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia to victory from sixth on the grid to go one better than the pair had managed in the corresponding race the previous season.

Westphal and Balzan currently lie joint sixth in the Tudor United Sportscar Championship GTD driver standings.