Lexus Performance Driving School

Lexus invited me to their performance driving school at the world-famous WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. This was my first time in California, making the entire experience a series of exciting firsts.

The Beast That Is… Laguna Seca

While I’ve had the opportunity to drive on legitimate road courses, none compare to the prestige of WeatherTech Laguna Seca. My first encounter with this track was years ago—through the video game Gran Turismo 2. Like many in my generation, our first glimpse of dream cars came in polygon form, racing on virtual tracks. Games like Gran Turismo fueled our enthusiasm, making cars like the RUF Yellowbird, Nissan Skyline, and Toyota Supra icons long before we could legally drive. Similarly, legendary tracks like Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, and Pikes Peak became household names before we even learned to parallel park.

But does any of that virtual experience translate to the real world? Do countless hours of gaming prepare you for the real thing, or does it hinder your learning? In the week before my trip, I found myself booting up Forza Motorsport 2 on my Xbox One for a virtual refresher of Laguna Seca. My goal was to familiarize myself with the track and absorb as much as possible during the driving school, which would only last about eight hours.

Laguna Seca spans approximately 2.2 miles, featuring 11 turns and a staggering 180 feet of elevation change. It’s already a highly technical track before even mentioning the infamous “Corkscrew” turn—often compared to driving off a five-story building. No rollercoaster comes close to the pucker factor of this drop.

The Lexus Performance Driving School Experience

The Lexus Performance Driving School is like an automotive traveling circus, hosting events at tracks such as Daytona, Monticello, and Indianapolis. While the 2019 schedule was still in flux, future events were expected to be held across the country, making it easier for enthusiasts to participate.

Although open to anyone, the program is designed to help Lexus owners learn to push their cars to the limit in a controlled environment. This sets Lexus apart from other performance brands that offer similar programs to customers. It’s important to note that this is not a “driving experience”—a key distinction. Many driving experiences focus solely on fast laps and adrenaline-pumping hooning. The Lexus school, however, teaches valuable driving skills, incorporating competition and extensive seat time. Even seasoned drivers can benefit from additional instruction behind the wheel of a high-performance vehicle.

Wheels Down in California

Arriving in San Francisco, I was greeted with a Lexus GS 350 F Sport for my drive to Monterey. While it wasn’t one of the vehicles I’d be driving on track, it offered a solid introduction to Lexus’s performance capabilities. The 311-horsepower sedan handled the California highways effortlessly, providing a comfortable yet sporty ride—definitely a step up from my daily SUV.

The next morning, after arriving at Laguna Seca, we kicked off the day with breakfast and a driver’s meeting outlining the schedule and expectations. Typically, Scott Pruett hosts the program, but due to his commitments at a little race in Daytona, we were instead chaperoned by racing legend Danny Sullivan.

What made this experience unique—and different from a typical driving program—was the direct interaction we had with a racer of Sullivan’s caliber. After lunch, we spent classroom time picking his brain about Laguna Seca and his vast racing experience. Both Danny and Scott have impressive motorsport résumés, and just having the opportunity to learn from them was worth the price of admission.

The Breakdown

Throughout the day, we rotated between three different driving exercises:

The morning sessions focused on familiarization, safety, and performance driving fundamentals. The afternoon was all about pushing limits and applying what we had learned. Classroom sessions between driving events allowed instructors to break things down further, answer questions, and provide expert insights.

Skid Pad: Learning Car Control

For the skid pad exercise, we got behind the wheel of the 467-horsepower Lexus RC F, a rear-wheel-drive sport luxury coupe. The wet skid pad served as our laboratory, teaching us car control skills essential for recovering from unexpected traction loss. It also gave us a chance to experiment with controlled drifting.

Most of us got it wrong more times than we got it right, but the challenge was exhilarating. Successfully holding a 180-degree drift is something that takes far longer than an afternoon to master. Fortunately, we had ample opportunity to practice, with instructors offering real-time feedback. By the afternoon, I felt much more confident in my car-handling abilities, and I could see noticeable improvement across the entire group—even among those with little to no prior performance driving experience.

Autocross: Precision and Competition

Next up was autocross, where we switched to the Lexus GS F—a four-door powerhouse that, despite its extra weight, is only a tenth of a second slower than the RC F from 0-60 mph. Given that autocross courses rarely exceed 60 mph, performance differences between the two were negligible.

After a brief course walkthrough, we paired up and took turns behind the wheel. The timed aspect of autocross sparked friendly competition within the group, which only heightened the excitement. As someone who thrives on competition, I focused on refining my technique to shave off fractions of a second. By the afternoon, everyone had improved dramatically. While I didn’t crack the top three, my driving partner set the fastest time of the group—proving the GS F was far more capable than I could push it.

The Main Event: Laps on Laguna Seca

Without a doubt, the highlight of the day was getting out on the full track. While autocross and the skid pad were valuable, nothing matched the thrill of Laguna Seca’s 2.2 miles of twists, turns, and elevation changes.

For this session, we stepped up to the Lexus LC 500—the most powerful car of the day, boasting 471 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 4.4 seconds. We drove in three-car formations, following an instructor who provided real-time feedback over the radio. Each car rotated into the second position to get a closer look at the proper racing line.

So, did my virtual experience of the track help? Absolutely. Familiarity with the layout allowed me to absorb more from my time on track. Rather than worrying about what came next, I could focus on execution—except, of course, when it came to the Corkscrew.

Because of the steep drop-off, you lose sight of the track entirely. Our instructor’s advice? “Just point the car at that tree.” It sounded like a death wish, but he was right—it lined us up perfectly for the descent.

By the afternoon, everyone was driving faster and with more confidence. Even those with no prior performance driving experience were lapping at speeds they never imagined.

Getting Schooled by a Pro

After a full day behind the wheel, I thought I had reached the car’s limits. I thought I knew what fast was. Then I rode shotgun with Danny Sullivan.

The first thing I noticed was his carbon-fiber racing helmet. Mine, provided by the school, made me look like a dork. His made him look like an armored racing ninja.

The second thing I noticed? I had no idea what “fast” really was.

By the time we hit the Corkscrew, I wanted out. The forces he generated in the corners defied belief. Hard braking launched me into my seatbelt, feeling more like a controlled collision than deceleration. The grip levels seemed impossible, and he used every inch of the track to maximize speed. It was humbling—an eye-opening reminder of the skill gap between a professional racer and an enthusiastic amateur.

Final Thoughts

The Lexus Performance Driving School is an incredible opportunity, whether you’re a Lexus owner or just a driving enthusiast. The program blends education, competition, and seat time in a way that makes it both enjoyable and incredibly valuable. Whether you’re a seasoned driver or a total novice, you’ll walk away with new skills, a deeper appreciation for performance driving, and, if you’re lucky, a newfound respect for just how fast a pro can really go.