What is going through my mind is doing everything possible to maintain control of the driver. Most students are respectful of the situation, but others don't have the mental capacity to listen to instructions and navigate the track at speed. Others just ignore your instructions once they start...
Do you have the VIN? That might narrow down the region and dealership where it was sold. You might be able to follow the breadcrumbs via the interwebs to find the current owner.
Other than tramlining with the SC2s (2018 and earlier, I can't comment on the tires that come with the non-R GT350's on the 19 and higher models), you won't feel any difference between a GT350 and the R version unless you are on a track.
One of the reasons the GT350 is such a great car is that it is an easy and forgiving car to drive fast, even for beginning drivers. That said, it will conceal a lot of errors that beginning drivers make. Beginning drivers in GT350's are usually 10-15 seconds slower per lap than a good driver...
You will save the most money buying from a private party. There are plenty of OCD GT350 owners who sell when the next best thing comes along. Insist on a pre-purchase inspection at a performance shop or reputable dealer at your cost, or no go.
I would suggest cars.com and autotrader. Also...
Looking at taking advantage of the NASA Hoosier contingencies for this season. Has anyone ran the A7/R7 on the stock carbon fiber wheels, and if so, what sizes are you running?
On my R I'm running the Pilot Sport 4S 305/30/19's on all 4 corners with no issues. Are you planning to go to the Track Attack? It would be a shame for you not to experience what a GT350 can do on a track in the manner it was designed and engineered.
I had an opportunity to drive a 2019 non-S PDK Carerra at Laguna Seca in December. It was my first time there, and the car rewarded me the faster I went. A terrific car, and by far my favorite track I've been to so far. But the car was no fuss whatsoever, which is good and bad.
It was...
I don't think ceramic brakes have a significant performance advantage in stopping distance or power over iron. They just resist heat better and last longer.
The local NASA, PCA, and BMW Club events all require point-bys on specific straights in their beginner and intermediate groups and are very good about adhering to safety standards.
Motorcycles run on separate days. I always recommend avoiding open lapping days unless you either have hired a private instructor or you have had a few weekends of prior formal high-performance driving instruction. Here is the schedule and a hot lap:
https://www.highplainsraceway.com/calendar/
The Colorado Front Range has some good track options. HPR is a fun track, but in the middle of nowhere. Pikes Peak International Raceway has an infield road course, and I second that Pueblo is also worth your time. NASA, SCCA, PCA, and BMW Club run events at all of these tracks if you are...