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| Bondurant High Performance Driving School | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bondurant High Performance Driving School |
| Established | 1980s |
| Founder | Bob Bondurant |
| Type | Driving school |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona |
Bondurant High Performance Driving School is a specialized driving instruction organization founded to teach performance driving, racecraft, and vehicle control to enthusiasts and professionals. It operates high-performance courses that combine skidpad, closed-course track, and simulated emergency scenarios to train drivers from amateur sports car racers to law enforcement and corporate fleets. The school is historically linked to a network of auto racing figures, manufacturers, and event promoters.
Founded by Bob Bondurant after a career with Ferrari and Shelby American, the school emerged in the 1980s as a commercial extension of professional motorsport coaching. Early associations included collaborations with SCCA, IMSA, and drivers from Formula One and IndyCar circuits. Relocations and expansions connected the enterprise to venues associated with Phoenix International Raceway, Bondurant School of High Performance Driving alumni racing in series such as NASCAR, Trans-Am Series, and Grand-Am. Over decades the school adapted curricula to advances from Dale Earnhardt-era stock car techniques to Ayrton Senna-era open-wheel methodologies, while engaging with manufacturers like Porsche, BMW, Ford Motor Company, Chevrolet, and Nissan for vehicle programs.
Course offerings span entry-level performance driving, advanced track day coaching, high-performance defensive driving for police and fire department operators, and corporate fleet training for UPS-style logistics and rental car partners. Specialty programs have included on-track drift workshops, autocross preparation, winter ice-driving events akin to European snow driving schools, and high-angle vehicle dynamics modules inspired by rally techniques. Certification and instructor development courses have attracted participants from Motorsport Ireland, FIA-affiliated clubs, and SCCA regions.
Primary operations have centered near Phoenix, Arizona with dedicated asphalt circuits, skidpads, braking zones, and classroom facilities. Satellite events and pop-up courses have occurred at tracks like Laguna Seca, Circuit of the Americas, Daytona International Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, and regional road courses affiliated with Miller Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta. Specialized off-road and low-traction venues mirror configurations used at Pikes Peak test stages and Rally America stages for gravel and snow training.
Instruction draws from former professional competitors, race engineers, and performance driving coaches who have backgrounds with teams and organizations such as Team Penske, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Williams Grand Prix Engineering, and McLaren. Staff credentials often include advanced licenses from sanctioning bodies like FIA competition licenses, SCCA driver school certifications, and prior roles as test drivers for manufacturers such as McLaren Automotive, Audi Sport, Mercedes-AMG, and Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Training emphasizes vehicle dynamics, weight transfer, threshold braking, and traction control interplay using vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control, and adjustable suspension rigs. Safety infrastructure incorporates standards comparable to FIA circuit requirements, including SAFER barrier-style protection, dedicated paddock marshals with radios used in Formula One and MotoGP, and emergency medical response comparable to that at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Data acquisition and telemetry use hardware and software from vendors used by Formula E and WEC teams to analyze lap time, throttle, brake, and steering inputs.
Alumni include drivers who progressed to series such as NASCAR Cup Series, IndyCar Series, World Endurance Championship, and Formula 3, as well as stunt drivers who worked on films with productions by Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox. The school has hosted corporate events tied to product launches for Ford Performance, Chevrolet Performance, Porsche AG, and press programs for automotive publications like Road & Track, Car and Driver, and Motor Trend. Invitational events have been attended by personalities from Top Gear, The Grand Tour, and Jay Leno’s automotive gatherings.
Partnerships and vehicle partnerships have included OEM collaborations with Porsche North America, BMW M, Nissan Performance Center, and aftermarket suppliers such as Brembo, Hankook, and Pirelli. Ownership and management have seen transitions involving private investors and licensing arrangements with motorsport event promoters and driver education networks similar to relationships between Skip Barber Racing School and regional track operators. Corporate fleet training contracts have been arranged with logistics and service companies analogous to partnerships seen between AAA driver improvement programs and vehicle manufacturers.
Category:Driving schools Category:Motorsport training