Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

Get Your Butt on the U.S. Grand Prix Track with Audi’s High-Octane Driving Experience

By

This weekend, the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, will host Formula One’s U.S. Grand Prix for the fifth year in a row. Leading up to the race, all eyes are on Mercedes-AMG Petronas and their star driver, Lewis Hamilton. Both the Driver championship and Constructor championship could be decided at this single event, making this race a critical one for all teams involved.

Should Hamilton claim victory and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel trail in sixth place or worse, Hamilton will earn his fourth Driver Championship — tying Vettel’s record. For second-place Ferrari to pull out a Constructor championship this season (thereby recovering from its 145-point deficit and ending Mercedes-AMG’s three-year run), it will take a little magic and a whole lot of mistakes on behalf of its German rival. Any way you look at it, this year’s U.S. Grand Prix won’t be one to miss.

Recommended Videos

Whether you plan to watch the race at home or in person, chances are, you’ve embraced the spectator role. There are certainly worse sports to view from the sidelines (care for a dose of professional fishing?), but what if you could get more involved in F1?

We can’t toss you the keys to a million-dollar Formula One car, but we can point you in the direction of a driving experience on the U.S. Grand Prix circuit — complete with rip-roaring sports cars.

Audi’s Driving Experience puts you behind the wheel of its hottest models to improve your car control, finesse, and technique while lapping the Circuit of the Americas. You can learn the basics with just a few hours of hands-on training or opt for a more immersive regimen in the automaker’s flagship R8 V10 Plus supercar. Either way, you’re guaranteed a new appreciation for what pro drivers face each time they suit up.

Audi offers four driving experience tiers (starting at $595) that begin with the fundamentals of quick decision-making behind the wheel, proper seating position, and vehicle behavior. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive RS3, TT-RS, and R8 V10 Plus offer the perfect mix of predictability and dynamics.

Who knows, this might be the first step in your path to becoming a pro driver … or it’s just a really badass way to spend a day or two. After all, no one wants to be a spectator forever. For more information on times and pricing, head here.

Editors' Recommendations

Miles Branman
Miles Branman
Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…
Mercedes-Benz updates 2025 EQS Sedan with more range and comfort
New rear seat comfort features may discourage 2025 EQS passengers from leaving.
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS in Obsidian Black view from center of back set forward showing the entire front seats and dashboard.

The 2025 Mercedez-Benze EQS Sedan will arrive at U.S. dealerships later in 2024 with significant upgrades. In addition to new exterior design features, the EQS Sedan will have a greater range due to its larger battery and new regenerative braking software. New rear seat comfort features may discourage passengers from wanting to leave the car.
Why the 2025 Mercedes-EQS updates matter

Besides Mercedes-Benz's traditional role as a standard-setter for the automotive world, there are two additional reasons to follow EQS developments. EVs present a new frontier for all existing automakers, which carries risks but also provides an open opportunity for outstanding game-changing advances and innovations. Mercedes-Benz definitely wants to continue in that role with EVs.

Read more
How much do Formula 1 pit crew and mechanics make?
Pit crews are highly trained athletes who are paid accordingly
Red Bull F1 race car in pit for tire change with pit crew in motion

Considering that a Formula 1 race car costs about $15 million, it's reasonable to assume the people who work with them are paid exceptionally well. Watching a Formula 1 pit crew during a pit stop is a near-magical experience. Viewers aren't privy to everything during a pit stop, but seeing an F1 pit crew change four racing tires in less than 2.5 seconds is astonishing. And that's just the average time (see below for the record pit stop times).

Pit crews get plenty of attention for their synchronized efficiency, which raises the question of how much Formula 1 pit crew and mechanics get paid. Estimates for pit crew and mechanic salaries range from $30,000 for a person who stands by with a fire extinguisher in hand to $1,000,000 for an F1 pit crew chief.
Why Formula 1 pit crew and mechanics salaries matter

Read more
The new electric Mercedes G-Class comes with four motors and a U.S. exclusive
The new G-Class will G-Roar at you
Mercedes-Benz G 580

The new all-electric Mercedes G class features four individually controlled electric motors, superior underbody protection, and a U.S.-exclusive trim. The luxury automaker has announced that the EDITION ONE special edition, which expands on the SUV's standard equipment and adds unique design elements, is only available in the States.

The vehicle’s four-motor setup provides a total of 579 horsepower and 859 lb-ft of torque -- along with more control over where that power goes. The ability to manage the output of each wheel is particularly useful on difficult terrain, off-road, and in situations that require precise maneuvering. The power for the motors comes from a116-kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which is integrated into the vehicle’s ladder frame and drops its center of gravity as a result.

Read more