Thank you Rodolphe for your patience and for sharing your expertise, it was ... great! #1

Wednesday September 30, 2015, 7 a.m.…

Rodolphe guides me towards the entrance of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, we emerge from the tunnel to discover in the internal parking lot a pack of Porsche super-prepared for the track. Moment of panic, what am I doing here?

Rodolphe reassures me: "It is more homogeneous, therefore easier to manage than at all mixed ..." Yeah ...

Full sun on this superb, magical circuit, I am flabbergasted and apprehensive, stress wins me over.

Pit-stop at the large buffet which remains open all day and compulsory briefing for all, it is very well organized, the marshals are present in full on the course, it reassures me a little.

We are getting ready, GoPro cameras, helmet, gloves, tow hook on the body,

take your place in the line and then take a turn behind the pace-car at 80 ... most are already starting to push ... the adrenaline is a thousand!

Let's go !

My Focus ST rumbles with its 250 horsepower and does what it likes: galloping full speed!

On the car side I already feel that I will not have any worries, it ensures ... it is not my case.

Rodolphe starts his hard work, teach me the difference between the circuit and normal traffic,

but I know, damn it! Yes, in theory ...

The first session of 45 min. is lamentable, at the first interval I am flat on the moral side, I feel null, I say it and Rodolphe answers me: It is well, you do realize it!

Small stop at the buffet and a little theory, the exposed photos of the champions serving as examples.

I feel tiny.

On the second outing I promise to listen better, and especially to perform better, it's a mass

information to manage at all times.

Rodolphe teaches me to re-park, and I who thought I was looking ... never far enough!

He constantly corrects me, protects me from overpowered Porsche GT4, Lotus, Caterham and BMW M

that stick to my ass and distract me.

This second sequence is better, I already succeed three or four trajectories out of 20.

At the next pit stop he offers to take the wheel of my car to show the ideal trajectories. I accept. Obviously follows a crazy fast circuit, where Rodolphe drives with the tips of his fingers, the Porsches no longer pass, the ST follows without suffering in the least. I can't say the same for myself ... between Stavelot and the Bus-stop I almost piss in my pants: according to Rodolphe it would be a straight line, not for me, hahaha, I laugh dark yellow.

From there I felt more reassured and over the hours I succeeded up to sometimes 50% of good trajectories, and the most important: I start to see my mistakes and that one second before committing them. I tell myself that the whole purpose of the operation is that !!!

Rodolphe now alternates congratulations and shouts, I start to smile, it's much better!

Summarizing that day I took a wash that I will never forget, and I spent a day that will resonate for a long time in my memory.

I learned a lot in a short time.

As for Francorchamps, superb, impressive, very technical, sometimes frightening, always fascinating.

One day I will have to repeat this same experience, there is still much to improve, but now I know I can do it.

Thank you Rodolphe for your patience and for sharing your expertise, it was ... great!

JJL