As the (hard) braking is applied, the weight load transfers to the front wheels and the rear end becomes lighter. When the turn is initiated it provokes oversteer and, without ESP, requires much more counter-steer to prevent a spin. With 80% less grip driving on ice, in comparison to tarmac, the speed that the back end breaks away is much more pronounced. I am however very impressed with how superbly the ABS is working as the pedal judders underneath the full pressure of my foot and allows me to steer out of danger.
The second exercise soon follows on the 600m x 80m dynamic area but this time it is a lap of slalom course. First run is with ESP switched back on and the Golf feels extremely stable but lacks any really grunt. As the traction is transferred from wheel to wheel, doing its best to prevent any wheelspin, power delivery is sapped. ESP is a safety feature designed for safe driving on roads but is proving to be a bit of a fun spoiler on a frozen lake. Second run is with limited ESP and the Golf is much faster than before and I see where all this is leading. Third run is with ESP deactivated and I rapidly weave my way through the first slalom section like a sideways snow-drifting pro with the wheels spinning in furious anger. The increase in speed, however, has a knock on affect and I am having to dial in a lot more steering correction to compensate for the build up in momentum.
Reaching the bottom-most point of the course, a long 180º left-hander, I am barely able to hold on to second gear as I run wide and have to ease off the power and apply maximum lock. Determined to make amends, I plant it and ring the neck out of second as I start negotiating the final slalom section. Then, up in to third. An increasing pendulum motion is building through each successive marker and right at the final turn before crossing the finishing gate I completely lose control of the momentum and, in slow motion, spin around to face the wrong direction even though I am foot to the floor in third.
With the germination of understanding starting to spring in to life I tackle the slalom course again and again with much more success. The long left-hander is still proving difficult and it is only when Marc takes me out for a run that I understand my error. His steering motions and feathering of throttle are much more gentle and precise than my own but are not a million miles away from what I have been attempting to do. The key is when he initiates the turn.
