Critical to making ever-better cars are the test drivers. We conducted comparative experiments on the perceptual abilities of young trainees and veteran drivers. And the results?
The unperceivable skills of a master
The next challenge was a steady-speed acceleration, simulating following a car ahead, commonly referred to as a ”slow press.” Like the ”step press,” this involved accelerating from 40-80km/h, targeting a 50% accelerator position.
In this acceleration, veteran Iteya managed a consistent operation, maintaining the targeted pressing speed up to the desired position.
Young Sagara initially pressed the accelerator at a constant speed but gradually slowed down. As he approached the targeted position, the firmness of his press lessened (see the red circle on the left).
What about maintaining the targeted position and controlling the speed to match the target vehicle speed of 80km/h?
The green line representing Iteya’s accelerator position descends at an angle similar to its ascent, meaning he eased off the accelerator at a rate similar to his initial press, successfully matching the target speed.
Looking at Sagara’s green line, there are steps in its descent, indicating an inconsistency in his operation and a delay in matching the desired speed (see the red circle on the right).
It was only through the data visualization that the clear difference in driving skills between the veteran and the young driver became evident. We had anticipated this, and it was evident that the veteran’s expertise was not something that he acquired in a day.
Sagara
I work every day with the determination to become proficient as soon as possible, but as the results of this test show, I still feel that my driving skills and my ability to sense the vehicle have rough edges.
Within the next five years, I aim to work confidently on all aspects of 'doing,' 'understanding,' and 'telling' so that I can eventually be involved in the development of sports vehicles like the GR86.
For me, being able to drive cars as a profession is a true joy. I will continue to devote myself to carmaking with gratitude.
However, to the journalists who observed and even joined them in test drives, the differences in driving between the veteran and the young driver were indiscernible.
This highlights that test drivers work on the intricacies of a car's development which are too subtle for the average person to perceive.
In the next installment, we will follow another young test driver who challenges a veteran in ”turning” and ”stopping.” But is driving skill all that’s necessary for a test driver? There are other indispensable qualities to be revealed...