Drift Service Driving Course with Andi Wittmann – Get to Know Your Car at Its Limits

A sports car quickly gives you the feeling that you have everything under control. Plenty of power, good tires, modern suspensions, and electronic aids make fast cars surprisingly accessible today. Things get exciting when that sense of security starts to fade: on wet roads, during load changes, when braking, or the moment the rear end becomes lighter than expected.

Driftdienst offers customized driving and drifting training specifically for this area. At the ÖAMTC Driving Technique Center in Saalfelden, Andi Wittmann shows sports car drivers how their own cars react at the limits and how they can handle them with confidence. The training starts with the basics of vehicle control and progresses step by step toward perfect “car control.”

First comes the riding technique pyramid

Andi Wittmann uses a clear structure to guide participants toward controlled driving at the limits. At Driftdienst, this is taught using the driving technique pyramid. Eye focus forms the foundation. After all, you instinctively steer toward where you’re looking. Next comes steering technique. Only once these basics are mastered does Andi move on to braking technique and—as the supreme discipline of vehicle control—acceleration.

Training that is gentle on equipment on the wet oval track

After a brief theory session, the action begins on the circular track. The watered, slippery surface provides the ideal playground. Here, you can put theory into practice at low speeds. It’s similar to driving on snow, which is why everything happens a little slower. Plus, you don’t have to worry about tire wear. Even with Luftgekühlt classics, you can easily join in here without worrying about damaging your car. Thanks to the smooth surface, nothing happens even if the car spins out.

The exercises in the Driftdienst driving course build on one another. They are based on the driving technique pyramid mentioned at the beginning, allowing participants to hone their skills with pinpoint precision. Depending on the participants’ prior experience, Andi Wittmann works with each person individually, offering suggestions for improvement while always remaining pleasantly calm and objective.

When needed, the experienced rally driver will sometimes take the passenger seat and provide valuable feedback. If someone is having a hard time or just wants to watch the pro at work, Andi will even take the wheel himself. This can be very insightful, even for experienced drivers!

Different cars, different learning curves—Andi Wittmann relies on personalized training instead of a standard program

The training becomes particularly exciting when different vehicle designs come face to face. A classic rear-wheel-drive 911 reacts differently on the skid pad than a modern all-wheel-drive 911. One tends to oversteer, while the other is more prone to understeer. Both therefore require a different approach to throttle, steering, and weight transfer. This is precisely where the great advantage of personalized training and the instructor’s extensive experience comes into play. Andi Wittmann has competed in rallies himself with all-wheel-drive vehicles and completed countless laps of the Nordschleife in a 911 GT3. That’s why he can quickly recognize what the driver and the car need at any given moment to force the car into an unstable state.

This applies regardless of driving skill level. Beginners first get a feel for the moment when the car begins to slide. Advanced drivers work on maintaining a clean line and perfecting their timing, and ideally experience the best side effect of good car control: a controlled drift. Because the exercises build on one another, there’s no pressure to perform. Every participant can continue working at their own level.

For Porsche drivers, this part of the training is particularly instructive. On the road, modern 911s in particular feel very predictable and safe. On the skid pad, however, they clearly demonstrate just how much the drivetrain design and weight distribution influence the car’s limits. It’s not uncommon for someone driving a Carrera 4S to struggle to keep the front wheels from sliding out of the turn, while in a 911 SC, you have your hands full trying to bring the rear end back under control. Once you’ve experienced this under safe conditions, you gain a whole new understanding of your car.

Putting What You’ve Learned into Practice on the Handling Course

Once the participants have mastered the basics, the next part of the program begins on the handling course at the ÖAMTC Driving Technique Center in Saalfelden. This course, just under 1.3 kilometers long, can also be watered and features a wide variety of curve radii with gradients of up to 11 percent. In addition, there are turns with standard asphalt as well as those with a slippery surface. In a very compact space, the ÖAMTC offers an extremely versatile paradise of turns for drift service training.

Here, Andi Wittmann once again gently guides his students through the exercises so that no one feels overwhelmed. From complete beginners to race car drivers, there’s something for everyone here. The combination of the terrain, wet surface, and flowing curves is challenging and requires focused application of what was learned on the circuit. “We can drive the track in different ways, allowing us to tailor the training content to every skill level,” explains the founder of Driftdienst.

At the Driftdienst driving course, no one needs to worry about their car. Speeds aren’t very high, the run-off areas are large, and thanks to the watered tracks, wear and tear is minimal.

“Be the driver in all traffic situations—never just a passenger”

For Andi Wittmann, it’s important that his Driftdienst training sessions aren’t race training sessions. Instead, his primary goal is to teach road safety. “Supercars in particular, with their extremely high performance limits, convey an incredible sense of safety and road grip that feels like it never ends. But the moment you reach that limit comes faster than you think. Especially when conditions suddenly change from a dry road to a wet one,” emphasizes the experienced instructor.

Supercars in particular, with their extremely high performance limits, provide an incredible sense of safety and a level of road grip that feels like it will never end. But the moment you reach that limit comes faster than you think.

Andi Wittmann, Drift Service

The ÖAMTC Driving Skills Center in Saalfelden

The training takes place at the ÖAMTC Driving Technique Center in Saalfelden. The facility offers ideal conditions for getting to know the limits of the car in a controlled manner that is gentle on the vehicle. Especially on the watered-down circular track, exercises can be repeated often without putting unnecessary strain on the car. This is an important consideration for owners of classic Porsches. You can actively push your car to its limits without overtaxing it.

Spanning over 100,000 square meters, the facility features on- and off-road tracks, a handling course—which is also equipped with a sprinkler system—and even ice rinks in the winter. Plus, the backdrop with a view of the Mitterhorn is absolutely one-of-a-kind. Thanks to its proximity to Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Zell am See, the driving course can be perfectly combined with a short getaway in the Alps.

At Driftdienst, there are small groups of up to five vehicles

Driftdienst is aimed at anyone who wants to better understand their vehicle. This could include Porsche drivers who want to push their classic or modern 911 to its limits. The training is equally appealing to owners of other sports cars, as well as clubs, groups of friends, or companies looking for a driving-focused event with real educational value.

The group size is deliberately kept small. With no more than five vehicles, there’s plenty of time for individual feedback, practice runs, and personal guidance from Andi Wittmann. That’s exactly what makes this training so effective. Small tips on where to look, hand positioning, or throttle control can make a big difference right away on the glide surface.

Book a personalized training session with Andi Wittmann at Driftdienst now

If you’d like to get to know your car better, you can contact Driftdienst directly to request personalized driving and drifting instruction. Appointments are arranged on an individual basis. Depending on the vehicles, your prior experience, and group size, the program can also be customized to your needs.

What should you bring? First and foremost, a love of driving and an open mind—after all, there’s a lot to learn from Andi Wittmann. You’ll also need a road-legal and insured vehicle with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive—and, of course, a full tank of gas when the event starts at 8:45 a.m. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an F-model or a 992 GT3.

Curious? Then book your Driftdienst driving course with Andi Wittmann now! You can do so directly at driftdienst.de, by email at mail@andiwittmann.de, by phone at +49 (0) 176 2037 9414, or via our contact form. Have fun at the training session!

With his Driftdienst driving courses, Andi Wittmann offers the ideal all-inclusive package for anyone who wants to safely explore their Porsche’s limits. Whether it’s a Luftgekühlt 911, a Transaxle, or a modern Carrera 4S—Andi has the right tips for every drivetrain configuration. And the ÖAMTC Driving Technique Center in Saalfelden is simply incredible!

Richard Lindhorst, Elferspot

Photos: David Fierlinger, Elferspot