The Thrill of Winter Driving

The course for this session consisted of one long circuit with tight corners, complemented by two skid pads. Additionally, two areas were set up for gymkhana-style driving using cones.

The academy generally proceeded with instructors demonstrating their driving skills from the passenger seat, followed by the student taking the wheel and the instructor offering advice from the passenger seat.

We began with familiarization laps on the circuit. Following my assigned instructor, "Kei," I took the wheel. Although I had experienced this four years prior in Inner Mongolia (where only the Gallardo was used as a "training car"), the different car and road conditions made me hesitant to push too hard from the start. Moreover, the ingrained thought of "not wanting to understeer" prevented me from applying excessive steering angle.

Then, Kei in the passenger seat advised, "This part is snow, so you can turn the steering wheel more." Encouraged by this, I gradually increased the steering angle. Indeed, on the snow-covered surface, the front tires offered surprisingly good grip, causing the car to rotate inward. This is what's known as initiating yaw. Once yaw was initiated, simply accelerating boldly would cause the Huracan to easily adopt a tail-out attitude.

I had driven the Huracan on the short course at Paul Ricard, but the oversteer that was impossible then was easily achieved here. This must be the true essence of winter driving.

Lamborghini Winter Accademia

Learn Snow and Ice Driving Techniques with Lamborghini (Part 2)

The Huracan on Snow: Surprisingly Easy to Handle

The Huracan on snow is surprisingly easy to handle. During the first half of the program, we drove with the ESP on. Even in this mode, it allows for a considerable slip angle (a significant sideways drift) without interfering with the driver's counter-steering, and smoothly regains rear grip after maintaining the oversteer.

The ESP tuning, seemingly designed for snow and ice driving, is exceptionally sophisticated and commendable.

Furthermore, the all-wheel-drive system naturally enhances control. AWD's benefits aren't limited to reliable forward movement on slippery surfaces. Similar to front-wheel drive, it prevents the rear from sliding out by pulling the car forward, thereby increasing stability.

Moreover, on snow, the dual actions of "enhancing stability with the front" and "inducing a tail-out drift with the rear" achieve a perfect balance, resulting in handling that can only be experienced in a well-engineered AWD sports model: "stable oversteer."

Lamborghini Winter Accademia

Learn Snow and Ice Driving Techniques with Lamborghini (Part 3)

Drifting in an Eight-Figure Turn

The next curriculum involved setting up four cones and practicing an eight-figure turn to experience oversteer and understeer. Just before the turn, we were instructed to turn the steering wheel sharply (about 120 degrees?), then briefly blip the throttle. This would cause the tail to slide out, requiring a quick counter-steer to correct the car's direction by 180 degrees and complete the drift.

Initially, I struggled to gauge the throttle input, either not achieving enough tail slide or over-rotating. However, by understanding the varying grip levels on different parts of the course, I learned to adjust the throttle accordingly, enabling me to execute clean spin turns.

Varying the timing of steering input and throttle application revealed that the same amount of control could result in either oversteer or understeer, a crucial learning point of this curriculum.

Next, we moved on to constant-radius turns on the skid pad. Ideally, one should be able to complete multiple laps of the skid pad while maintaining a consistent drift angle. However, achieving this on a skid pad that was partly icy with patches of snow proved quite challenging. Frankly, even the instructors found it difficult.

Lamborghini Winter Accademia

Learn Snow and Ice Driving Techniques with Lamborghini (Part 4)

Advanced Techniques for the More Ambitious

Simply inducing oversteer is achievable by turning the wheel widely and applying significant throttle, causing the tail to swing around as in the eight-figure course. However, this is a momentary maneuver, and maintaining a consistent drift angle is difficult.

Despite this, Kei, my instructor, seemed eager to let me experience the joy of tail slides and attempted to teach me this technique, which involves large movements. However, the chief instructor, Peter, appeared and said something to Kei in Italian.

Apparently, the advice was not to induce drift from a near standstill with sharp steering and heavy throttle, but rather to increase speed close to the limit of grip and then accelerate further to achieve precise drift control.

This explanation left me pondering. I understood both Kei's and Peter's points. Kei's approach was effective for drivers new to oversteer, offering them a glimpse into an "unseen world." Peter's approach, on the other hand, focused on acquiring more precise and subtle control, aimed at advanced drivers.

Lamborghini Winter Accademia

Learn Snow and Ice Driving Techniques with Lamborghini (Part 5)

Experiencing the Potential of Lamborghini

Afterward, Kei and I strove to control the Huracan according to Peter's guidance. Unlike Kei's safer, low-speed drift method, this approach requires considerable speed and can become risky without sufficient skill. Nevertheless, I practiced diligently, aiming to master "delicate drifting" over time.

While some of my colleagues, familiar faces from the industry, were satisfied by midday, I felt a lingering desire to continue driving. I suspect this difference in perspective contributed to my wanting more time on the course.

Still, Lamborghini is incredibly generous. Even on snow and ice, crashing into a snowbank at speed would likely damage the car. The fact that this driving school, without any apparent concern for such risks, aims solely to showcase the potential of Lamborghini products speaks volumes about their deep affection and confidence in their own creations. My sincere gratitude to Lamborghini.

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster
Body | Length 4,780 x Width 2,030 x Height 1,136 mm
Wheelbase | 2,700 mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,720 / 1,700 mm
Weight | 1,625 kg
Engine | 6,498 cc V12
Bore x Stroke | 95 x 76.4 mm
Max. Output | 515 kW (700 ps) / 8,250 rpm
Max. Torque | 690 Nm / 5,500 rpm
Transmission | 7-speed ISR (Single-Clutch Semi-Automatic)
Drivetrain | MR 4WD
Suspension Front/Rear | Horizontal monotube dampers with pushrod system
Tires Front | 255/35ZR19
Tires Rear | 335/30ZR20
Brakes Front | Ventilated carbon-ceramic discs
Brakes Rear | Ventilated carbon-ceramic discs
Top Speed | 350 km/h
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 3.0 seconds
Fuel Economy (NEDC) | 16.0 L/100 km (approx. 6.3 km/L)
CO2 Emissions | 370 g/km
Price | ¥47,934,720 (incl. tax)

Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4
Body | Length 4,459 x Width 1,924 x Height 1,165 mm
Wheelbase | 2,620 mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,668 / 1,620 mm
Weight | 1,422 kg
Engine | 5,204 cc V10
Bore x Stroke | 84.5 x 92.8 mm
Max. Output | 449 kW (610 ps) / 8,250 rpm
Max. Torque | 560 Nm / 6,500 rpm
Transmission | 7-speed LDF (Lamborghini Doppia Frizione)
Drivetrain | MR 4WD
Suspension Front/Rear | Double wishbone
Tires Front | 245/30R20
Tires Rear | 305/30R20
Brakes Front | Ventilated carbon-ceramic discs
Brakes Rear | Ventilated carbon-ceramic discs
Top Speed | 325 km/h
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 3.2 seconds
Fuel Economy | 12.5 L/100 km (approx. 8.0 km/L)
CO2 Emissions | 290 g/km
Price | ¥29,700,000 (incl. tax)

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