From econoboxes to sports cars and even supercars, in this line of work, we often get the opportunity to sample all sorts of cars. While you can get a taste of any car by driving them on local roads, some cars simply have to be taken to the race track for one to truly experience and appreciate them.
Like how a low-quality MP3 audio wouldn't sound great on a top-tier Hi-Fi sound system, driving a top-of-the-line performance car on city streets at pedestrian pace just wouldn't cut it - you would be leaving too much on the table to have a complete and accurate experience.
This time, spending some time with the BMW M cars (many that I have previously driven on Singapore roads) on Bira Circuit in Pattaya, Thailand, has emphasised the importance of driving them in the right environment.
The BMW M Drive Festival
We, along with BMW M car owners, were invited to attend the BMW M Drive Festival in Pattaya, Thailand. BMW M cars are built with performance in mind, and it is always a good idea to experience them in their natural environment: A racetrack.
Unlike the other events that I have attended in recent times, such as the Porsche World Road Show and Mercedes-Benz's recent AMG drive, the M Drive Festival's activity line-up doesn't consist of specific driving exercises such as acceleration and braking, slalom and others.
While those driving exercises are great learning experiences, the M Drive Festival's programme - which consists mainly of convoy drives in the track and out on public roads - allows participants to have a closer experience with the cars that they are driving.
At the event, we got to drive the BMW M4, M3 Touring, M3 CS and M2 on the track (for multiple laps), and also took the XM 50e and the i5 M60 on the roads in Pattaya. And I've definitely had enough time with the cars to get close and comfortable, and have a clear understanding of how they drive like.
Rediscovering the M cars on Bira Circuit
Back in 2021, I drove the M3 and M4 briefly on local roads. Their performance was incredible, but driving on public roads meant it was only safe to refrain from exploring the limits of such performance cars.
Later on, in 2022, I got behind the wheel of the M3 once again at the M Experience Day held in Changi Exhibition Centre. This time round, within the controlled environment, we got to push the car harder within the confines of a course demarcated with cones. However, the experience was rather lacklustre if you were to ask me - the course was too short and tight, and the surface too sandy for the car to perform at its best.
This time round, experiencing the M cars at a proper track was an eye-opener. Getting to drive them hard in a controlled environment with challenging segments has confirmed my suspicion: These cars are best enjoyed in racetracks.
Cars like the M4 and the M3 CS had plenty of power that made quick work of the short straight in Bira Circuit; the agile handling, immense traction, along with their eagerness to rotate, made driving the cars hard at the circuit an absolute joy - much more so than when driving them on public roads, well within legal speed limits.
My experience with the M2 this time round is perhaps the most significant.
Back when I tested the car on some curvy stretches of roads in Singapore, I found the car a little overwhelming - it felt like I would lose control of the car if I pushed it too hard. However, with the adequate environment to explore the car safely, I've found out that I've misunderstood the car - I wasn't even at the limit when pushing hard on the roads; the car was in fact egging me on for even more!
On the roads, it felt like the rear was going to go loose. However, even when pushed past the point in the track, the car gripped on, albeit with much eagerness to rotate into the turn - this made for a rewarding and fun track experience.
Some cars are just made for the tracks
Yes, modern high-performance cars like the BMW M models are extremely versatile. Built with all the technology that you'll desire (driving assistance, smartphone connectivity, adaptive damping settings, excellent sound system, and more), along with quick-shifting automatic transmissions, these are cars that you can drive daily without issue. At the same time, if you are in the mood to drive fast, the power and dynamics of these cars will never disappoint.
But to savour the true abilities of these cars, and to truly enjoy driving them, you have got to hit the racetracks. Trust me on this: Get behind the wheel of a BMW M model at a race track and you'll be pleasantly surprised by just what these cars are capable of.
