MINI DRIVING EXPERIENCE TRACK DETAILS
THE REAL DEAL
Located on over 426 acres, the Thermal Club is a private motorsport club that you’ll experience when you book a class at the BMW Performance Center West. With multiple tracks to explore, it’ll be worth a return visit.
THE THERMAL CLUB TRACKS
CERTIFIED SPEED
The Thermal Club features three distinct tracks that our MINI classes will utilize at various times. It’s the real deal – the track features an FIA Grade 2 certification that allows INDYCAR to race here and will be more than a match for you and a MINI.
THREE CHALLENGES
The MINI Driving Experience will have you out on these large tracks for Lead/Follow events, where you’ll follow behind instructors closely and try to keep up with them.
DESERT CIRCUIT
The Thermal Club's Desert Circuit is 1.7 miles long, featuring connected cambered corners and low- and high-speed sections designed to mimic a mountain road.
NORTH PALM CIRCUIT
The Thermal Club's North Palm Circuit layout is approximately 1.4 miles long and features a challenging carousel-style corner and elevation changes.
SOUTH PALM CIRCUIT
The Thermal Club's South Palm Circuit is a 3.067-mile, 17-turn course that was used for the inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix in 2025.
THE MINI TRACK
WHAT IS AUTOCROSS?
Imagine that you’re at the starting line – look ahead to a series of cones pointing you in the direction you’re supposed to go. You might get up only to highway speeds, but you’ll put in some real work here as you use the throttle, brakes and steering to quickly adjust where you’re going.
POLISHED PERFORMANCE
We set up our autocross course through some switchbacks and fasts turns, which means you need to use every bit of performance from that TwinPower Turbo engine. Hit a cone and we subtract time off your run.
MINI DRIVING EXPERIENCE TRACKS AT A GLANCE
Can I drive my own MINI on track?
No. Only official MINI Driving Experience vehicles are allowed on track.
Is the track open to the public for any track days?
No. Only official MINI Driving Experience classes are held on track.
Does every class take place on the Thermal Club’s tracks?
No. We’ll use the BMW track as well as the Black Lake area for many activities. Lead/Follow events are held on the Thermal Club’s tracks.
Do the instructors ride with me on track?
No. They will communicate with you via walkie-talkie during each exercise.
