I’d spent many years on cruise control – both literally and figuratively – allowing my car to follow the one in front. But when the approach of retirement prompted the purchase of a dream performance car, I thought I should have some training to get the best out of it.

I really didn’t know what to expect from the 2-day Total Control Masterclass, but whatever I had imagined, Ivan delivered far more. He introduced me to entirely new concepts that made no sense initially (trail braking, anyone?), but that were a revelation to experience in the safety of a one-to-one session on the Millbrook test track.

My worries about losing control of the car were rapidly put to bed when Ivan demonstrated what the vehicle was truly capable of, proving that I was the limiting factor and that the most effective upgrade was improvement to my driving skills.

Over the course of the first day on the track, I became more proficient and more confident in my ability to handle the car. At the end of the day, I was both excited and exhausted; my mind was humming with the new things I’d learned.

Day 2 was a great application of the technical skills learned on the track to the setting of public roads – it was such buzz! Learning to read the road, using full road width positioning when appropriate, and using the capabilities of the car allowed me to make progress faster and safer than I had ever driven before. With Ivan’s reassuring presence in the car reminding me of what good driving was like (and, occasionally, what bad driving was like!), I had continual feedback.

Driving home after the course felt completely different to my many prior years of driving – and it’s remained that way since. Now, I seldom use cruise control and I hardly listen to the radio because I am so engaged in the sheer pleasure of driving.

To complete the experience, my wife completed the course at the same time in her car with one of Ivan’s fantastic team.

P. Williams