Driving at the limit - Ailton and Frank Baumann at the Contidrom.

Hanover, December 2003. The foot briefly touches the accelerator and the silencer emits an impatient rumble. Into first gear, power up and then it's all systems go. The gear lever whistles its way through the six short stepped gears - just as fast as the Porsche 911 Turbo on the asphalt at the Contidrom.

The twin turbo 911 takes off like a jet. It does 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h). A light touch on the accelerator and the 420 hp burst into life, to be reined in by a firm foot on the brake and then go full throttle again when coming out of the bend. The car responds with great precision to the slightest steering movements and handles even the tightest of bends with cool confidence. The beefy rear spoiler is an aerodynamic necessity - the car needs it to reduce uplift on the rear axle. Which is why on a bright, sunny and freezing cold Sunday morning, this powerful car with its wide, high-speed ContiWinterContact tyres (225/40 R 18 92V on the front, 265/65 R 18 97V on the rear), gets a good grip on the asphalt road.

The idea is that professional drivers teach professional footballers the right way to handle a car and the importance of having the right tyres so that one can actually drive properly. Christian Danner, a former Formula 1 driver, has just demonstrated the bright new world of fast driving to professional footballer and player of the season Ailton in the Porsche 911 Turbo. The Brazilian forward, currently under contract to SV Werder Bremen, has not only turned a couple of shades paler, he is also visibly impressed and bubbles with enthusiasm: "This car is simply perfect with these tyres. Super, fantastic. Now I know all there is to know about cornering. It'll take me half an hour less to get to Bremen." Danner is pleased with the response and confirms that the Brazilian has talent: "Ailton handled things really well."

He didn't have much choice, because the former professional racing driver put the football pros through the entire programme - handling circuit, dynamics track and the high-speed oval circuit with its steep bends.

Frank Baumann, team captain of Werder Bremen and German national team player, who seemed to be watching Ailton's activities mainly with amusement, was clearly affected by his own first encounters with the steep bends: "I had a bit of a funny feeling on the first two laps. But when you yourself are sitting behind the wheel, things are a lot better. Doing 112 mph (180 km/h) round the steep bend - that was quite an experience. That's when you realise what centrifugal force is all about. It really presses you down in your seat." Privately Baumann, father of two, drives a Mercedes C-Class estate - fitted with winter tyres, of course, because for him safety is of overriding importance. And only winter tyres ensure this safety from 7oC and below, something Baumann is well aware of.

After the 'Pros test drive with pros' training session, Christian Danner was generous in his praise of both professional footballers, who immediately returned the compliment. Frank Baumann: "I've seen how you drive a car at the limit and it was great fun." The fun bug hit Ailton hardest and he is now after greater challenges: "I don't normally drive my Carrera 4 like this, but now I'm going to buy myself a 911 Turbo."

Markus Burgdorf, head of Tyre PR at Continental, also came to a positive conclusion about the event: "That was just the beginning. We shall be holding more sessions in this 'Pros test drive with pros' series."