Every major sports-car maker runs a driving program. They teach you to drive that maker's cars, on shared circuits, through a ladder of courses. The best courses sit at the top of the ladder, and a beginner cannot book them until the earlier rungs are done. Stratos is the private jet option of track day experiences: no ladder, and one trip.
In short: Manufacturer ladders cost days as well as money. Reaching Porsche's Master GT3 RS takes three bookings and about five and a half days, and the price is in the table below. Ferrari's ladder to Race costs €75,640 incl. VAT over six days. A beginner goes straight to the top, in one trip.
Key facts
- Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and BMW each run their own driving programs, in their own cars only.
- The top courses have entry rules. Porsche's Master GT3 RS requires Performance or similar training, and Performance requires Precision. Ferrari's Race requires Evoluzione+, which requires Sport.
- In their own cars, the ladder to the top is in the table below for Porsche, and costs €75,640 incl. VAT at Ferrari and about €5,600 incl. VAT at BMW M. Lamborghini and Mercedes-AMG do not publish prices.
- Stratos is not a manufacturer. A beginner goes straight to the top: a valid driver's license is enough, with 3 nights and 2 full track days in one trip.
- Stratos totals run from €32,500 to €60,000, VAT included.
The ladders compared
| Program | The ladder | Entry rule for the top course | Days and bookings to the top | Cost to the top, all in the maker's cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche Track Experience | Precision, Performance, Master GT3 RS, then Master Racecar and Rennsport Academy | Precision: none. Performance: Precision, plus an entrance exam at Hockenheimring. Master GT3 RS: Performance or similar | 1 + 2 + 2.5 = 5.5 days. Three bookings, at least two trips (Leipzig sells Precision and Performance as a 3-day bundle) | About €23,300 incl. VAT: Precision €2,400 a day (€4,800 for two days), Performance €4,225, Master GT3 RS €16,699 (2.5 days; €6,680 a day, €13,360 for two days). About €29,700 incl. VAT with a personal instructor on the top course |
| Ferrari Corso Pilota | Sport, Evoluzione+, Race | Sport: Ferrari clients and prospects. Evoluzione+: Sport. Race: Evoluzione+ | 2 + 2 + 2 = 6 days, three courses | €75,640, VAT included: Sport €14,640 (Fiorano), Evoluzione+ €26,840 (Monza), Race €34,160 (Monza) |
| BMW M, AREA M | Essential, Pro (Coaching sits beside the ladder) | Pro: Essential first. Coaching: none | 1 + 1 = 2 days, 2 nights, two bookings | About €5,600 incl. VAT: Essential €2,290 a day (€4,580 for two days), Pro €3,290 a day (€6,580 for two days) (BMW M4 only) |
| Lamborghini Accademia | Mach I, Mach II, Mach III | Not published. Booked through a Lamborghini dealer | Not published | Price on request |
| Mercedes-AMG Experience on Track | Performance, Advanced, Pro | Pro: Advanced or similar | Advanced and Pro are two days each | Not published |
| Stratos | One level for everyone | A valid driver's license | One trip: 2 full track days, 3 nights | €32,500 for a Porsche 911 GT3, all in, VAT included, one trip |
Why the ladder costs more than the price list
Every manufacturer ladder is a set of separate bookings, and each one is a trip. At Porsche, Precision is one day and Performance is two, both at a Porsche Experience Center. Master GT3 RS is two and a half days, on a Grand Prix circuit such as Spa-Francorchamps. That is about five and a half days over at least two trips, and the price list does not include the flights or hotels. Ferrari's three courses are six days.
For anyone whose time is money, that is the real cost. Stratos is built for them. There is no ladder and no prerequisite course. A beginner goes straight to the top: two full days on a fully privatized Grand Prix circuit, with a professional race driver coaching in the car, in one trip.
Ways around the ladder, and what they cost
Some makers sell a faster route, at a higher price per day. Ferrari's Personal Coaching is one day, one-to-one: €21,960 a day (€43,920 for two days) for Sport and €24,400 a day (€48,800 for two days) for Race, incl. VAT. Porsche sells a personal instructor for €6,400, incl. VAT, on Master and Master GT3 RS. BMW M's Coaching is €4,290 a day (€8,580 for two days), incl. VAT, for one participant per car, with no prerequisite. Ferrari's Personal Coaching Race still requires Personal Coaching Sport or Corso Sport first.
Who is on track and how they are coached
These ratios are program-specific; the general picture is on Private circuit, open track day or manufacturer course.
- Porsche Master: up to 40 participants, groups of 5 per instructor. Master GT3 RS: up to 32, groups of 2.
- Ferrari Sport: up to 28 participants and ten instructors. Evoluzione+: up to 25, groups of five with three instructors each. Race: up to 16, in pairs.
- Lamborghini Accademia: an instructor by every participant's side, at every level.
- Stratos: 15 drivers at most, each with a private coach beside them in the car, on a circuit nobody else uses.
What they have in common
- One brand. You drive that maker's cars and nothing else.
- A ladder. The fastest cars come after earlier courses.
- Shared circuits. Groups rotate through sessions.
- A course, not a trip. Hotel and travel are usually yours; BMW M includes a night and catering.
Which one suits you
- You own a Ferrari and want the factory to teach you: Ferrari Corso Pilota.
- You want a structured Porsche course close to home, and a long ladder: Porsche Track Experience.
- You want a racing license at the end: the top stages of the Porsche and Ferrari ladders, or Lamborghini's Mach III.
- You want a private Grand Prix circuit, a choice of cars, no prerequisites and one trip: Stratos.
Where Stratos is different
Stratos is not a manufacturer. That is the point. It hires the entire Grand Prix circuit for 15 drivers, so nobody else is on track. You choose from the available cars, which may include the Porsche 911 GT3 or GT3 RS, the Ferrari F8 Tributo or the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Coaching is private, with a professional race driver beside you. There are no prerequisites. The hotel, the dinners and the transfers are arranged.
Like for like, reaching Porsche's Master GT3 RS with a personal instructor costs about €29,700, VAT included, over three bookings, before hotels and travel. At Stratos a 911 GT3 is €32,500, all in, VAT included, in one trip. A manufacturer course costs less for the driving alone. Stratos costs more because the circuit is yours, nothing is left to arrange and you go to the top at once. The full price comparison is on How much does a track day cost in Europe?.
FAQ
Which manufacturer program has the longest ladder?
Porsche's. Its Track Experience runs Precision, Performance, Master, Master Racecar, Rennsport Academy and Rennsport Season. Porsche's own FAQ lists the levels in that order.
How much does it cost to reach the top of a manufacturer ladder?
About €23,300, VAT included, in Porsche's cars, or about €29,700, VAT included, with a personal instructor. Ferrari's Race is €75,640 incl. VAT across three courses. BMW M's Pro is about €5,600 incl. VAT. Hotel and travel are extra at Porsche and Ferrari.
Can a beginner book a manufacturer's top course?
Not at first. Porsche's Master GT3 RS requires Performance or similar training, and Performance requires Precision. Ferrari's Race requires Evoluzione+, and Evoluzione+ requires Sport. Direct entry is possible at Porsche only with proof of equivalent training.
Where can I drive a Porsche GT3 RS without doing earlier courses?
At Stratos. There are no prerequisites, and a professional coach sits beside you.
Do I need to own the car?
For Ferrari, you need to be a Ferrari client or prospect. Porsche, BMW M and AMG take anyone who meets the course's entry rule. Stratos needs no car at all.
Can I drive more than one brand in a weekend?
Not on a manufacturer program. At Stratos the available cars may include Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and many others.
What is the Porsche Track Experience?
Porsche's ladder of driving courses, from first laps to the Master GT3 RS course, run at Porsche's own centers and on shared dates at Grand Prix circuits.
Which program is best for a complete beginner?
A manufacturer's entry course for a short introduction. Stratos for two full days in a supercar on a private circuit, with a coach beside you, in one trip.
Is Stratos a manufacturer program?
No. Stratos is independent, which is why its cars may include Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and many others.
About Stratos
Stratos runs exclusive driving experiences at Europe's greatest Grand Prix circuits, for founders and leaders. Each event privately hires the entire circuit for 15 drivers max, with a supercar fleet, private coaching with professional race drivers, 3 nights of luxury accommodation and 2 full track days. Stratos is invitation-only.