Fact Sheets & Video - Newcastle

Take it to the extreme!

Rally driving is the titillating, jaw dropping and heart-stopping thrill of a lifetime. Why not get an adrenalin rush sideways by driving at extreme speeds with an exhilarating rally car drive day, where prior experience isn't required. But it's not just about having fun, safety is foremost with the rally day equipping participants with some valuable skills that enhance driving techniques for every day driving.

Although rallying can be traced back to the 1894 Paris-Rouen Horseless Carriage Competition (Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux), today Extreme Driving.net run rally driving courses across mainland Australia, including the HPOTS (Hunter Plant Operator Training School) Centre in Cessnock, a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Mark Haybittle, a professional and ardent rally car driver who originally hails from the UK, set up Extreme Driving.net in 1992 to allow more people to experience the thrill of this exciting motorsport of skill.

Offering a half-day or full-day car rally session, the day begins with a 30-minute brief in the rally conference room where you get to learn some tricks of the trade and get a genuine feel for the skills used in everyday rally driving. Then it's off to the dirt rally track for some real action. All participants wear helmets and cars are fitted with racing harnesses and roll cages as precautionary measures. Having an instructor sitting beside you at all times ensures you learn proper car control techniques. These include under-steering, over-steering, Scandinavian flick, pulsating braking and dynamic weight transfer in 4WD turbo intercooled rally cars, as well as some amazing rear-wheel rally vehicles. These include a Suburu WRX, Toyota Trunino and Evolution Lancer. All the action happens on an open, cleared area in the middle of the forest where you get lots of extreme sideways action with anywhere between 28 and 32 laps. Participants increase their speed and skills within their own capabilities and confidence levels.

The highlight of the half-day or full-day rally experience is one, flat out "Hot Lap" driven by one of Extreme Driving.net's rally driving professionals.

And for something extremely unique, Extreme Driving.net also offers learn how to drive a military tank with an Armoured Car Drive Day.

This ex-Australian army APC has seen service in Hong Kong and Singapore during its 48 year history, and still drives like a well-oiled machine. An English machine, it weighs around 11.5 tonnes and is powered by a huge straight-8 cylinder Rolls Royce engine. It can accommodate a total of 10 people as well as the driver and instructor, making it suitable for a team day out.

Further Information:

Call 1800 648 846

www.extremedriving.net

The rally car drive is available mainly on weekends and is subject to weather conditions.

The event begins at either 9.00am or 1pm and lasts for 4 hours.

Bookings required.

Crowne Plaza Newcastle

Call 1300 666 545 for reservations Or Call (02) 4907 5000

www.crowneplaza.com.au