The moment you officially get your driving licence is unforgettable. After months of meticulously logging your hours and perfecting your parallel-parking skills in empty parking lots, the open road awaits.

Even if you’ve got decades of experience behind the wheel, Mercedes-Benz Driving Events are designed test your mettle and improve your driving skills.

Each year, Mercedes-Benz New Zealand holds a week-long driving event, taking participants through a number of dynamic handling exercises, educating them on the innovations and technologies of the Mercedes-Benz range. For those incredibly keen New Zealand drivers, customers also have the opportunity to attend a series of AMG specific track days held at iconic Australian racetracks including Sydney Motorsport Park and Sandown Raceway.

Two of our driving instructors are Chelsea Angelo and Zac Soutar, who are dedicated to driving excellence and are passionate about helping Mercedes-Benz customers become smarter and safer on the road.

From go-karts to race cars

To those who know them, it’s no surprise both Chelsea and Zac are professional driving instructors. From their humble beginnings racing go-karts as children, they both went onto professional motorsport racing as adults.

“I started racing go-karts from the age of 10 all around Australia and by the time I got to drive a road car at 16, I thought I was a bit of a pro, but learnt very quickly that driving on the road is very different to driving on track!”

As an adult, Zac started racing Formula Ford and currently competes in the TCR Australia Series with his own Team Soutar Motorsport outfit.

Chelsea’s love for the motor world also started young. Today, her credentials include racing in the TCR Australia Series and the Dunlop Super2 Championship.

The road to success

Both Zac and Chelsea’s on-track racing experience and handling capabilities gave them the opportunity to join the Mercedes-Benz Driving Events team as professional driving instructors.

Zac recalls the first time he drove a Mercedes-Benz vehicle at a Mercedes-Benz Driving Event as surreal.

“The first [Mercedes-Benz] car I actually drove was the C 63 four door, I was always eyeing this model on the road and never thought I would get the opportunity to drive one, and all of a sudden, I was working with 15 of them. It was a very cool experience.”

As Zac explains, Mercedes-Benz Driving Events are an opportunity for participants to test their driving skills and build their on-road confidence, all while getting an up-close look at the Mercedes-Benz range in a unique on-track setting.

“Our role is not only teaching people how to drive on track, but also to make them aware of the technology of the car and the way Mercedes-Benz vehicles [can help] keep them safe,” explains Zac.

It’s a rare and exhilarating experience for drivers and their instructors alike. “As a coach, something that fulfills me is seeing how happy and stoked people are or watching them build confidence from the start to the end of the day,” Chelsea says.

Similarly, one of Zac’s favourite parts of his job is seeing his students hone their skills. “It’s super satisfying when you’re coaching someone on track… and you can see everything start to line up in their minds and they really enjoy the experience of being on track.”

Beyond the circuit

While Chelsea and Zac build on-track confidence, safety anchors everything they do. Drawing on their extensive racing knowledge, they coach participants to not only look in front of them, but ahead – and prepare for any obstacles.

“We see a lot of people genuinely interested in learning more about their cars and wanting to learn about the safety features they don’t know about on their own vehicle,” says Zac. “We can then put that into a practical demonstration in a safe environment and show them how their car works to keep them safe.”

Passion for motorsport

Working as professional Mercedes-Benz driving instructors and race-car drivers has afforded both Chelsea and Zac the opportunity to race some of Australasia best circuits.

For Chelsea, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is one of her favourites and “not just because it has beautiful views – it’s also a really fast-flowing racetrack with high speeds”.

Meanwhile, Mount Panorama (also known as Bathurst) tops Zac’s list. “It’s just incredible, you never get used to that first lap out in practice, your mind’s blown by the sheer steepness and close walls of the circuit,” he says.

Zac and Chelsea’s passion for the motor world – from the go-karts of their youth to Mercedes-Benz range they work with today – is contagious. It’s impossible not to share their excitement when you join them in the front seat at one of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Events.

Book your spot at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Events now.