Track-based RS Academy supercar club
April 21, 2009 by George Skentzos
Even for those who are fortunate enough to afford a supercar of their own, the idea of a joining a supercar club is becoming more and more enticing as an alternative, offering the thrills of supercar ownership without the drawbacks.
Now a new track-based supercar club has made this decision even more difficult, offering members the opportunity to not only drive some of the world’s most exotic cars, but with no limits at a selection of the world’s finest race circuits.
The RS Academy has been formed by Rob Stanbury, a former staff member of the original supercar club, P1 International in 2005 whose belief is that driving a Lamborghini or Porsche on today’s roads is a bit like riding a racehorse around your garden – in a word, frustrating!
“It was while at P1 that I saw the potential for a track-based operation that allowed members to experience supercars as never before – in my view, those limited to road use can never fully exploit such vehicles without risking their licence, or their own and other people’s safety.”
The Academy will operate from three of the world’s best circuits – the undisputed Mecca of motor sport, the Nürburgring, Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps and the ultra-exclusive, privately-owned Ascari Race Resort near Marbella in Spain.
As it has only just opened, only a relatively small fleet of supercars are currently on offer, but that can be likened to saying only a few Victoria’s Secret models will be joining you in the penthouse suite.
Among the current list of cars are the Renault Megane R26.R, Caterham R500 Superlight (current Top Gear Power Lap holder), BMW M3 CSL, Porsche GT3 RS (997), Lamborghini Superleggera and Radical SR3.
Three forms of membership are available, Individual, Shared and Corporate, making the experience either a private indulgence, fun for a few or the ultimate work Christmas party.
As part of the membership, expert tuition is provided before slipping behind the wheel of a different car or exploring a new track, along with insurance against accidental damage and personal injury whilst on track.
Membership starts from just shy of A$40,000 for an individual membership and tops out at just over A$70,000 for a corporate membership with up to five named drivers.
We can dream.
Print it: 
wow, nice ride
Part of me asks why you’d spend $40K on something you can’t “own” while the other part of me says, when else do you get the opportunity to drive a half a million dollar supercar (whew, a second hand Superleggera sells for more than a new one here haha, as do a lot of other performance cars in high demand, starting with the C63 =D). Although the $70K package sounds a bit nicer on the pocket, works out to about $14,000 pp if you have 5 members.
I can understand Stanbury’s view of the situation but i’d much rather put my money down on a P1 package (if you’re in the club, you may have more credits than you think ;) ). I believe that part of the experience of driving/owning a car in this league is being able to drive it on the roads we’re used to driving on everyday and well, you can’t say that if you had a Superleggera in your driveway, you wouldn’t wanna show it about to your mates.
Driving through a small town with your Arancio Borealis Superleggara with the amount of attention from on lookers and car enthusiasts a like is half the experience.
so as camski says, you now have the choice of driving the ultimate track tools on a track, or driving around town like the ultimate tool.
Sorry but Renault Megane R26.R, Caterham R500 Superlight, PLEASE…i wouldnt care how fast those 2 are, i aint paying 40g’s to get stuck with these 2 pieces of ugly crap. If i had the money to buy one, you could give me the Scuderia anyday. And the other point about whingeing about not be able to drive these cars on our roads to their full potential…BULLLSSSHEEET….their are many many highways on every single coast and state in australia, you can still drive legally at 110km and still enjoy the cars, not at thier peak no, but still enjoy it all the same.
Not that im doing it in a ferrari, but my mazda is good for now… :) well sort of…
Actually Booter, what I meant was, I don’t mind a chat with a fellow car enthus. that’s interested in what i’ve got to drive. In some respects, some people enjoy the sight of a car they haven’t seen before, it’s something different from everyday life – It’s one of the few times you actually get to see something new and different.
Now that the motoring desires of the rich and famous are well and truly catered for can we please turn our attention to making motorsport more accesible to the remaining 99.99% of the country? Karting is more expensive that most people think.