Scions at Play:
First full weekend of celebrity race training

(03/17/07) Near-perfect weather and temperatures allowed drivers to push their cars and their skills to the limit. Celebrity racers honed their technique in preparation for the April 14 race day as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Multiple sessions filled full days of high speed lapping, cornering exercises and passing. Racers learned the naunces of their cars and handling them in traffic at speed.

Photos show cars running the 1.8-mile Streets of Willow track at Willow Springs International Raceway.

The Streets of Willow was built in 1987. Its multi-functional attributes make it a great training facility. Elevation changes, increasing and decreasing radius turns, off-camber gives drivers many challenges as they increase their speed in the extremely twisty environment.

Drivers drove solo and with instructors on board. Focus included high speed braking and acceleration in and out of turns while finding the fastest "line" through the twisties.