Two-Day Advanced Formula Program in Laguna Seca

This program is designed for recent graduates of our One-, Two-, and Three-Day Formula Car Programs, as well as experienced formula car drivers who trained elsewhere. It is a driver's test day rather than an introduction, so you should already have the fundamentals and the ability to run the course at pace. Advanced racing programs cater to varying experience levels, and the focus starts wherever your driving experience already sits. Contact us if you are unsure, and we will confirm the fit.

The standard two-day starts from the fundamentals of race driving. This program follows the format of the second and third days only: advanced theory, one instructor-led lead-follow session, and four open lapping sessions with data and video debriefs. All track time, no beginner curriculum, and no time spent on the parts of the school you have already completed.

Running starts at 9:15 AM with a high-speed instructor-led lead follow session and two open lapping sessions before lunch, then two more open lapping sessions through to 5:00 PM. Data and video debriefs sit between every session, so no lap goes unreviewed from the morning briefing to the last run of the day.

Instruction is built around your data rather than a preset curriculum. ABRS professionals and data engineers review your telemetry and video after each run, then work on the areas where you can make the biggest gains in performance. Telemetry is what separates a fast lap from a repeatable one, and data analysis is a skill every professional racing driver has to develop. Two drivers on the same day may spend the two days on entirely different problems.

We supply the race car, the fuel, and all safety gear. You drive the same entry-level performance formula car used across our programs, which is the best class of machine for learning, because the two days go into your driving rather than into new equipment. Drivers must hold a valid driver's license to participate or have previous racing experience.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of the best-known racetracks in the world, with real elevation change, a mix of corner types, and the Corkscrew. Track conditions change through the day, so a circuit this demanding is where advanced drivers notice the difference between one quick lap and a consistent run. Salinas, California gives local drivers advantageous proximity to major racing venues, and students travel in from across the country for the same reason.

Our instructors are competitive racers with professional backgrounds working alongside data engineers. Training from a former Formula One driver is available here: the school is run by owner Allen Berg, who raced in Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Three, Formula Atlantic, sports prototypes, and touring cars, and who qualified for nine starts in the 1986 FIA Formula One World Championship.

It is one step. Paired with our three-day school, this program qualifies you to apply directly for an SCCA Full Competition License, which is the first step onto the racing ladder in the United States. Acquiring racing licenses involves passing specialized training schools, and racing schools provide the essential training and licensing opportunities aspiring racers need before they can start driving competitively.

Karting is the common starting point for most drivers. Because most new F1 drivers are under 20 years old, the top drivers typically start young. Young drivers move from karting into entry-level formula cars, then up through regional and national championships. Sim racing has become a real training tool rather than a game, and high-quality simulators are now essential equipment for developing race car drivers between events. Talent, conditioning, and experience all have to arrive together.

Professional racing requires substantial financial backing, and funding is the single biggest barrier for aspiring race car drivers. Costs increase significantly as drivers progress, so a path that starts as fun becomes a serious question about money and life choices. Most drivers rely on family funding, which is why family questioning of the spend is common and why some racers give up certain luxuries to keep the ride. A paying job in motorsport is rare: paid racing seats are extremely rare and highly competitive, and most people at club level pay to race rather than earn from it.

Drivers often rely on sponsorships and partnerships for career support, and sponsorship opportunities are increasingly difficult to secure. A sponsor is buying an outcome, so any partnership has to provide a return on investment for the company rather than fund a dream. Drivers who present well, understand their own data, and can talk about the team's performance in public tend to find backing sooner than faster drivers who cannot.

Becoming a professional race car driver requires elite physical endurance and mental processing. Professional race car drivers endure extreme G-forces during races, and our racecars pull up to 2 G through the corners and under braking, so you will feel it in your head, neck, and arms by the second session. Rigorous physical conditioning is standard at high level, and conditioning programs generally combine cardio and flexibility training, which improves a driver's performance and endurance across a full race distance. Mental conditioning matters as much: professional racing demands mental resilience, and drivers must develop strong fundamentals before speed becomes repeatable.

Many other elements decide whether a driver progresses. Understanding your vehicle well enough to master it, working with a team and a crew chief, reading data, and speaking publicly for sponsors all count. Networking opportunities exist at motorsport events and gatherings, and the community around a paddock is where most rides come from. Friends made at a race weekend often turn into the people who put you in a car later, so it is worth watching, talking, and staying visible whether or not you are driving that weekend.

Graduates of our Two-Day and Three-Day Formula Car Programs can earn an SCCA Novice Permit. This advanced program is the step after that: paired with the three-day school, it qualifies you to apply directly for a Full Competition License, which opens club and national championships. Other options exist for drivers who want a different discipline, including stock car and NASCAR pathways, so contact us, and we will talk through which route fits what you want to achieve.