About DDP
The Driver Development Programme was founded four years ago by Carolyn Barker.
Carolyn’s background is quite diverse from the motoring point of view.
Becoming familiar with track days in the early 80’s, at the same time
running a driving school through to the 90’s, as well as racing at club
level in various cars from her BMW E30 M3, through to club level
Formula Renault. Carolyn also has extensive knowledge of the
Nurburgring Nordschleife and has instructed and raced there.
She was aware of increasing numbers of owner drivers wanting to learn
more about the handling limits and dynamics of the vehicle they drive,
and who were also interested in the opportunity to take a good look at
their own driving skills.
Having worked as an instructor at the Prodrive test site for many
years, she saw what a perfect combination of activities and great team
of instructors could be offered, to supply this need, and so began The
Driver Development Programme.
She says “it doesn’t matter what you drive, feel for the limits can be
learnt whether in a Fiesta 1.1L or a Porsche GT3! You can be a new
driver or a race competitor there is always another level to find. The
DDP courses gives all drivers the chance to explore and develop true
car control for what ever personal goal”
For 2010, in addition to the well extablished, highly successful Performance Car Handling Control Course, there is the addition of the "Newly Qualified Young Driver Course" and the "SUV Dynamic Handling Course"
Newly Qualified Young Driver Course: For
a long time Carolyn has been aware of deficiencies in the required
standard of driving needed to pass the driving test. Each year
thousands of cars leave the road in accidents caused purely by drivers
with no knowledge of the dynamics that keep a car balanced and
stable. The new DDP course will take a detailed look at what creates
instability in car handling and teach, through practise and discussion,
how to be an informed and therefore, safe, driver.
SUV Dynamic Handling Course: Carolyn sees many
examples of owners of big powerful SUV's loaded with stability
programmes, who would benefit from better understanding of these
systems and the oppurtunity to practise dynamic handling to bring out
the best of these superb vehicles.
DDP instructors :
The DDP team of instructors are from the best in the country. Our instructor base is diverse and highly skilled, coming from a variety of backgrounds, such as circuit racing, rally driving and car manufacturer testing.
Each course date may have a different line up of instructors, depending on whether they are competing or not, so it is difficult to give a profile on each one, but rest assured, the standard is always very high, anything you want to know regarding any aspect of car dynamics or driving technique, can be answered on the day!
Carolyn is careful to match drivers with the right instructor, so giving each customer maximum benefit from the day.
Two drivers share an instructor. This is a proven formula, giving plenty of personal time, driver to instructor, with time to consolidate between driving sessions. It is also interesting to learn by watching another.
Your instructor will take each guest through their own personal development plan, so whatever your previous experience, you will always be at a level that suits your needs.