BMW Driver Training at Sepang F1 Ciruit!
We were recently invited to take part in the BMW Driver Training program yet again at the Sepang F1 Circuit across the border. Initiated in 1977 at Munich, the BMW Driver Training program has been successful in educating general motorists the right way to drive their cars.
Unlike the Audi Sportscar Experience, this leans a little more on proper driving techniques with systematic syllabus.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW Driver Training.
Just like most training programs, it started off with the driver briefing. BMW’s certified professional trainers explained to us the basics of proper driving techniques such as seating position and 3 to 9 steering position. We were also briefed about understeering and oversteering and how to rectify it by taking measures to improve grip and shift the weight of the car.
Soon after, all of us got into our designated training cars (two participants in each car); BMW 325i’s, fresh from the showrooms. The first part of the training; braking and brake & avoid. In this part of the program, we were basically thought on how to fully utilize the ABS stopping power of the BMW’s. We did hard “tyre-screeching” braking at speeds of up to 70 km/h. I felt the ABS was doing its job by pressing and releasing the brake pads at least 19 times in a second!
In brake & steer, we hit the brakes at about the same speed and avoid a cone in the middle by steering left or right. In real life, you can substitute the cone with probably a stalled truck. With ABS you can steer while braking, but for cars without such driving aid, its impossible to steer while braking as you will end up locking the brakes. You will have to release the brake pedal midway which can prove to be rather difficult.
Next up was the slalom test. The slalom test is when we steer the car through cones which are placed adjacent to each other. This is where the correct steering position comes in, which enables you to ‘feel’ the steering and make lesser inputs. The lesser you steer, to faster you can drive through the cones. To give you a better understanding, try pushing your car with the wheels pointing straight. Then try to push the car with the wheels pointing to the very right. Harder isn’t it?
Anyway after that was the understeering and oversteering practical lessons. Understeering is when you lose front end grip and you get the sensation that the car wants to go straight ahead even if you are trying to point it to a different direction. This happens when you enter a corner too fast or when you push too hard through the corner. To overcome that, you simply lift of the accelerator, and the weight will be distributed to the front wheels giving them more grip.
Oversteering on the hand is when the rear end losses grip. Although it looks more exiting with the car going sideways and burning some rubber at the same time, it is the harder one to tame. The power has be cut off and you have to counter steer the car.
In the understeering segment, the electronic stability program (ESP) was disabled. Then we were asked to drive straight on, make a U-turn, and mid way through the U-turn, we hit the accelerator and guess what? The wheels were pointing elsewhere and the car was going dead straight. As I have mentioned above, we then lifted off the accelerator and it started to point to the right direction.
We then did it with the ESP turned on and noticed right away how the ‘car’ did the job for us. How this works is that the car automatically applies brakes on one designated wheel only, and this wheel creates a pivoting point for the car, which then realigns the car and the wheels.
Then, at the same testing ground, we did the oversteering part. This time the testing ground was made slippery with water. ESP off, and then in 1st gear (manual mode) at about 3500 revs, we tackled the U-turn and mid way, we applied full throttle and the rear stepped out. So to handle that, we had to release power and counter steer.
Although I must admit, I sometimes purposely gave more power while counter steering it, it was fun! This is when you see lots of smoke! With ESP turned on, the car goes through the same “braking one wheel” concept, but this time, brakes are applied to a different wheel to counter the oversteer.
All participants then took part in a slalom and brake time attack competition. I am happy to say that I set the second fastest time of the day! Right before we all got our certificates and called it day, we were treated to a half lap track fascination. It was great fun and educational at the same time.
Wouldn’t it be great if at least half of what is thought at the BMW Driver Training can be applied in our driving academies? The syllabus today was just part of a huge training program. Next year BMW plans to offer other parts of the series such as full track training and so on.
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its very great to have one of m3 series and drive at sepang circuit.. well as they say that there could only be one winner in that competition.