Rally School Ireland, in cooperation with BMW, offers wheelchair users two new exciting events * Advanced Mobility covering collision avoidance, skid control, and * Winter Driving Training, a perfect way to boost confidence and ability behind the wheel as we enter the winter months ahead. The drivers can master key driving techniques including braking and avoidance manoeuvres, typical emergency scenarios and how to respond to them. This course operates from October to March and involves driving a modified BMW 1 Series car.
Participant David Griffith said he had 'an epic day' trying out the new adapted cars and was spoiled for choice with the selection available. "Disabled drivers now have the same opportunities to explore their need for speed as able-bodied drivers," he said. "It's the only form of school I've been to where I enjoyed learning. Life long customer!"
Pictured above are Ray O'Dwyer, Irish Paralympics Athlete; accompanied by David Griffith, Niall McDonnell, Trevor Lecky and David Kerr for the launch of the new, adapted vehicles for wheelchair users.
Another participant, Niall McDonnell, said that from the start in the 1.6 BMW, the Subaru Impreza Rally Car to the Ferrari F355, it was an amazing experience, each car with its own individual characteristics from the rear wheel fun of the BMW (don't let the 1.6 engine fool you!), to the planted and sure footed feeling in the Impreza with its stripped out interior giving great sound effects, to being in the sheer luxury of the Ferrari that was so smooth with acceleration and an exhaust note that was spine tingling."
He said that despite the fact that the Ferrari and the Impreza are manual gearshift, with the help of David and the other co-drivers, he had no problems in driving either, which for him as a wheelchair user, gave him the opportunity to drive cars he would only otherwise have dreamed of. "I cannot recommend coming here highly enough," he added.
Rally School Ireland's Managing Director David Smyth explains "We have kept the classroom stuff to a minimum and jammed the Advanced / Winter Driving courses with practical experience carried out in a controlled safe environment."
BMW Driving Experiences are available to people of all abilities and are a great benefit for your every day driving, giving you reduced reaction times, improved car control and the confidence to be safer in slippery conditions. "The thrill of getting to slide and recover a car, and the experience of driving on winter tyres, and the massive levels of grip they provide when it's cold and wet, is amazing.
The BMW Winter Driving Training course costs €175; the BMW Advanced Mobility Experience €195.
The facility at Rally School Ireland is level 2 1 accessible (with push / pull hand and steering wheel controls.
Rally School Ireland also offers Supercar Experiences in the Ferrari F355 and Porsche 911, or the Subaru Impreza Turbo Rally Driving experience for wheelchair users. The Super Car Experience - 1 car is €110; 2 cars €220, or 3 cars €295. Call 047 89098 to book.
In conjunction with BMW, Rally School Ireland offers a range of Winter Driver Training and BMW Advanced Driver Training Experiences in a 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and M3. Winter Driver Training is also available in MINI Countryman vehicles.
Further information from www.bmwdrivertraining.ie, or telephone David Smyth at 1890 269 569.
