Porsche Offers Arctic Circle Winter Driving Lessons in Levi, Finland
Porsche’s Ice Experience in Finnish Lapland lets drivers test the limits of control on meticulously prepared ice tracks using the latest Porsche models, with expert instruction and exclusive activities.
Porsche has established a winter driving programme in Levi, northern Finland, giving enthusiasts the chance to master driving on ice and snow more than 170 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. The Porsche Ice Experience uses a dedicated Arctic Centre with purpose-built tracks and a full fleet of current Porsche models, including the 911 GT3, 911 Turbo S, Taycan and Cayenne S.
The driving area covers 280 hectares, roughly the size of 400 football pitches, transformed each winter from marshland into a network of drift tracks, handling courses and technical sections. Track preparation begins months in advance, with ice technicians compacting snow and layering water to create a 20cm-thick base. Each day, up to one million litres of water from a nearby river is spread over the tracks to maintain a glass-smooth surface, while supervisors check the ice for safety and consistency every morning and evening.
Participants can choose from several training formats, from entry-level sessions focused on basic car control to advanced courses designed for high-speed drifting and motorsport-style driving. Programmes are structured into DISCOVER, LEARN, BOOST and RACE stages, with additional options for women-only groups, exclusive one-to-one coaching, and bespoke packages. The tracks themselves were designed by Hermann Tilke, known for his Formula 1 circuits, and include 12 handling courses, seven paddocks, six double loops, six figure-of-eight tracks and two flick squares.
Expert instruction and tailored experiences
Professional racing drivers and experienced instructors lead all training, offering direct feedback and guidance on techniques such as controlled drifting, braking on ice, and managing load changes. Klaus Bachler, an Austrian racing driver, is among the instructors who spend the off-season in Levi coaching participants through challenging exercises. Each session begins with a briefing and is structured to allow drivers to progress through increasingly demanding scenarios, with instructors providing individual attention and correction.
- DISCOVER: Entry-level training for first-time ice drivers
- LEARN: Intermediate sessions focused on advanced car control
- BOOST: High-performance courses for experienced drivers
- RACE: Motorsport-inspired training with individual coaching
The fleet available to participants includes the latest Porsche models, from the all-wheel-drive Cayenne S to the electric Taycan and the high-performance 911 GT3. Cars are fitted with spiked tyres for grip on the ice, and the training area is designed to allow safe recovery from spins or excursions into snow banks. Porsche’s stability management and off-road systems can be demonstrated and explored in real-world Arctic conditions.
Beyond the driving: Arctic experiences and hospitality
The Ice Experience is not limited to driving. Porsche also offers a range of Arctic activities for participants and their guests, including husky safaris, ice karting and opportunities to witness the northern lights. Off-track, guests can relax in heated lounges and enjoy Finnish cuisine. The event attracts drivers from across Europe and Asia, drawn by the combination of technical challenge and the unique setting of Lapland in deep winter.
Porsche’s Arctic Circle driving programme demonstrates the brand’s commitment to experiential marketing and driver training, expanding its appeal beyond traditional track days. It also allows Porsche to showcase the capabilities of its models in some of the world’s most demanding conditions, reinforcing its reputation for engineering and performance. For details on other extreme driving adventures, see /do-you-have-200000-then-you-can-have-the-trip-of-a-hazardous-lifetime.
