This January, Santa invites you to his backyard to drive a Porsche 911 on ice.
Near Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and the 'official' home of Santa Claus, you can experience an adrenaline rush like no other while pushing the boundaries of rally-prepared air- and water-cooled Porsche 911s across spectacular landscapes of snow and ice. The Kalmar Beyond Adventure 'Spirit of Speed Arctic' is a unique ice-driving adventure that is presently accepting bookings for January 2024.
Guests will drive to the stunningly gorgeous Arctic Circle, known for viewing the Northern Lights, where the isolated rally driving facility provides unrivalled fast and hard driving stages through deep woods and over frozen lakes to enjoy day and night. Teams and drivers in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) employ the rally, super, and rallycross stages, which range in length up to 12 kilometres (km), for testing.
Kalmar Porsches have been modified for rally racing, and you may choose from many of them. Guests may pick their ice weapon of choice from a wide variety of models, including air-cooled old 911s (964 and 993) and water-cooled newcomers (996), both of which are available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive combinations. You may also put to the test a brand new mid-engine Cayman R. This Kalmar-prepped 987-series Cayman is a nimble off-roader with excellent handling and a lightning-fast PDK transmission, making short work of any terrain.
Porsche has more than a decade of expertise preparing vehicles for excursions in harsh areas, so you can trust that your vehicle will get you there safely and provide you with an enjoyable and informative ride. Built by Kalmar Automotive, a sibling firm, each model has been stripped down to the bare essentials in an effort to save weight. They all come standard with competition-grade suspension, sports seats, belts, and roll cages, as well as full underbody protection. All 911s are equipped with manual gearboxes and have ABS that may be turned off at the driver's discretion.
Genuine World Rally Championship (WRC) studded tyres, the same kind that have won WRC Rally Sweden crowns, are installed on these beautiful vehicles to keep them attached to the ice. These skinny 105–135mm designs have 384 tungsten-tipped, 6mm metal studs for a sure grip and feel on the ice.
Experienced and novice ice drivers alike will benefit from the customised nature of the behind-the-wheel activities and individual instruction. Two-time FIA World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm will be one of the hand-picked, seasoned driving instructors on specified occasions. The Finnish rally icon, often known as the 'Bosse' in his native Scandinavia, is one of the most successful WRC drivers in history, with two championships and 30 rally victories to his name.
Three driving packages are available: Arctic Control, Arctic Race, and Arctic Team. The Arctic Control curriculum is a two-day course designed to teach both novice and expert extreme drivers how to safely navigate icy roads. Participants will master section training and move on to full-track driving and amazing night-driving sessions, with fast-track options for the more experienced.
The Arctic Race programme is ideal for people who want to take their abilities to the next level. It's the ultimate Arctic Control experience, with all the thrills and chills you can handle around the clock. This authentic rally experience, complete with speed notes, pits visitors against one another as they race around winding, hilly courses through dense woodlands.
Finally, the Arctic Team Package provides a completely customised itinerary designed for teams to achieve their objectives and satisfy their needs.
Those who sign up for the driving experience are free to invite a friend who isn't also participating in the activity. The exclusive Glass Resort Premium Lodge combines sleek Nordic aesthetics with all the comforts of home, and guests are welcome there. Private rooms at this lodge feature glass walls and ceilings, providing guests with a breathtaking view of the night sky and, with any luck, a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Each night, a private chef prepares delectable local cuisine before guests retire to the sauna, outdoor hot tub, or cosy lounge areas.
In addition, the staff may arrange for visitors and their companions to partake in other Arctic adventures, such as snowmobile driving, husky, or reindeer sledding, for an extra fee.
The four-day, all-inclusive packages feature two, seven-hour days of driving with a private instructor, plus luxury lodging, a personal shuttle, a private chef-prepared lunch, and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. Guests pick a driving package, and an experience is personalised by the Kalmar Beyond Adventure staff. These high-end, custom-tailored experiences have prices that can be discussed upon inquiry.
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