Blue skies, shimmering asphalt and powerful Audis in Shanghai

Reading Time:3 minutes

The Audi R8 V10 Coupe Performance cars at the starting line of the Shanghai International Circuit during an Audi customer race day in July. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 11:09pm, 2 Sep 2016Updated: 11:09pm, 2 Sep 2016

It’s not easy taking photos when you’re being thrown around the cockpit as the R8 V10 Coupe Performance does speeds of over 200km/h. I’m in the passenger seat for a hot lap of half the Shanghai International Circuit on an Audi Driving Experience day. You can hear the rear wheels scrabbling for grip as the mid-engined sports car is thrown around a corner.

Earlier I had done three half laps myself but could achieve nowhere near the speeds I am now experiencing with pro driver Mark Allison. The track is littered with knocked-over cones.

“Hong Kong drivers tend to knock over the cones because they’re used to driving on the other side, and think they are farther away from the apex,” Allison explains. Like all the instructors, the South African has many years experience racing.

Interior oaf an Audi R8 V10 Coupe Performance at the Shanghai International Circuit during an Audi customer race day in July. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Located in the city’s suburbs, the Shanghai International Circuit hosts the annual Formula One Grand Prix along with other races such as the China GT. Nearly 5½ kilometres long, its design is shaped to resemble the shang character from Shanghai. Audi began running driving experience days in China in 2003 and regularly uses the Shanghai Circuit. Arranged for Audi customers in Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland, it allows them to experience a level of driving not possible in everyday conditions, while in a controlled, safe environment.

The day had begun with a briefing teaching handling techniques and track safety. Outside in the pit lane, a fleet of six shiny new Performance versions of the R8 V10 awaited. For once, the Shanghai smog had dissipated to be replaced by glorious blue skies above the shimmering asphalt. With a pro driver in the lead of each R8 trio, we had set out onto the track with the pro setting the pace to make sure no one got too carried away. Despite being instructed in the briefing on the ideal line for cornering, I soon discovered that this is where I needed improvement.

The event is divided into stations and at the second station, in a pair of R8s and an RS7 Sportback, we hone our cornering technique. Usually when racing, the fastest way around a corner is by using the straightest line. Luckily for us we have been given a helping hand. Blue cones mark the area where we should brake leading into the corner, while orange cones mark the point we need to aim at on the apex and then on the exit.