"Driving Masterclass"

Total Car Control
DYNAMIC HANDLING MASTERCLASS DRIVING COURSE Review July 2018 not 2022 suggested by the date below.
First of all, let me say a huge thank you for your efforts during my day with you at Millbrook. This was one of the best days I have had driving my Maserati and left me with a myriad of lessons to work on that will gel to make me a better, smoother and more accomplished driver. I recognised before seeing you that I had a lot to learn before I could confidently say that I could ‘drive’ my car, and I was not surprised to see that I was correct in that judgement. What did surprise me though was, even after reading your excellent e-book, how far away from polished I actually was.

One area that I felt I might be ok was my observation. I like to think that I do look well ahead to plan my route through bends and tighter turns, but this of course gets all the more frantic when the speed builds, and it was a great lesson to me that even reasonably good observation needs to be much better to safely negotiate challenging roads. This was a lesson I didn’t expect to learn but one which has had a big effect on me since the course.

On the handling circuit in the morning, you more or less let me go at it with a view to measuring the level I was at. This was where I think I learnt a very substantial lesson about the car. I was undoubtedly relatively slow at first and was definitely taking the wrong lines into and out of the bends. After you did a short demonstration for me, just a couple of laps if I recall, I realised just how much more the car was capable of than I had given it credit for. Once overcoming this vital bit of learning, I felt my confidence increase significantly, knowing that if/when I made a mistake that the car was well within its capabilities, so a correction from me would be easily ‘accepted’. This allowed me to push on a little more than I had been before, confident that I could remain safe even when entering previously unchartered territory. Your short demonstration really set me up for the rest of the day and I’m delighted that you suggested it; I learnt a great deal from that.

The most impressive and surprising aspect of the day came on the Mile Straight. I wasn’t really too bothered about getting the car up to maximum speed on the High Speed Circuit: we know it can go fast and its not something that can be done anywhere else, so I was much more interested in the Mile Straight. Here you took me through emergency braking and manoeuvring under maximum brake pressure. Firstly, at 50mph we stopped the car within about 5 car lengths! This was a real eye opener too, as I had not applied maximum brake pressure in the car in the previous two years of owning it. In future this is something I will always do when I get a new car; it was another valuable lesson. Moving on we did the 100mph maximum brake and stopped in a similarly surprisingly short distance (albeit double the speed = quadruple the stopping distance). Again, really great lessons to pick up.

The Hill Route is a highly technical route with a great deal to think about, much of which at the beginning of the day would have been impossible, but after lunch when we worked with it I felt that I could definitely feel improvements based on what we had already covered. This was the most challenging part of the day for me, mainly because it was most like real driving and was the area in which I wanted to see genuine progress.

Before the day I hadn’t realised at all just how technical driving could be, but to be efficient on the road, smooth, fast and safe, takes a considerable amount of knowledge and solid concentration. Putting into practice therefore, all that I had learnt throughout the day was the most satisfying aspect of the course. I was far from perfect, but I was much more proficient than I had been just a few hours earlier.

Your teaching technique clearly works really well, for I learnt a great deal during the day about both my car and my own competence to drive it. I always enjoyed driving quickly but now see much more of a challenge in it. It’s no longer about just getting from A to B quickly, it’s now all about driving with sound technique to utilise the car’s capability, the road available and my learnt skills in handling the car through weight transfer, braking and effective steering. To arrive at B having achieved a technically correct drive is hugely rewarding, plus safer and with the option of arriving at B faster than before.
Thank you for a great day’s learning and experiencing the more technical aspects of driving, which have enhanced my enjoyment of my car and of my driving generally. Even my wife thinks I’m a better driver as a result!

M. Pilgrim

"Excellent experience"

I took a 3 day course with Ivan in December 2021. 2 days at Millbrook proving ground and a day on public roads.
I have to say it was one of the best driver training courses I have ever done, and my confidence, awareness, and, of course, car control has improved immensely.
I still find myself fighting the 'monkey brain' on trackdays from time to time, but I use it now as an indicator of where there is time to be gained.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be a safer, smoother driver.

"Must be experienced!"

I have done at least three sessions with Ivan and each time I have learnt something new. The fundamental driving skills and techniques that you learn is invaluable. The setting is unique and the experience is amazing! I will be booking again. Thank you Ivan .

"Highly recommended for any driver of any ability!"

I carried out a 3 day course with Ivan in my 911 GT3RS back in 2020. Despite already being a driver with a far bit of road and track experience, my time with Ivan was worth every minute!

The fact that the course is tailored to your individual needs and delivered 1 to 1 is great. It means that you really get out of the course what you feel will benefit you, as opposed to being generic.

Regardless of what you are looking to achieve, if it involves driving, book Ivan. Highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed the 3 days.

"A day spent with Ivan at Millbrook…"

A day spent with Ivan at Millbrook can't be recommended highly enough. Ivan is very personable and puts you at ease immediately. My confidence to drive quickly and safely has improved vastly. To understand your car and improve on your driving skills, all done in a safe place and within your own limits can only be a winner. Total Car Control = FANTASTIC!

"One of the best driving experiences in my life!"

I had the incredible two days course with Ivan at Millbrook and around Cambridge back in March 2022. Now 6 months later I see the results of that experience.
Due to Ivan’s lessons and advises I changed my driving habits not only driving powerful cars, but even ordinary slow vehicles.
I recommend this course to any supercar driver and or owner as you probably underestimate what kind of car you possess. Thanks to Ivan I learned how my car behaves in different situations.
I recommend taking wet circle, but just let Ivan to see how you drive first and then he chooses lessons for you.
The driving lesson around Cambridge was fantastic. I could have never imagined how useful country roads could have been. Originally, I was a little sceptical, but Ivan shown me real master class and shown me that country road can be even more interesting for improving driving skills than a track