On the Thermal Club’s South Palm circuit, a 1.8-mile racetrack set amid the desert landscape of Southern California’s Coachella Valley, a Porsche Cayman blazes along at 120 mph as it nears the end of the track’s 2,500-foot straightaway. Just ahead lies Turn 7, a 180-degree bend. The car, operating in fully automatic mode, belongs to the club’s fleet of Caymans that serve as instructional vehicles. In another car up ahead is the track manager, Jeff Rodrigues, who is providing the Cayman’s driver, a visitor to…