Depending on your level of interest in performance driving and your level of driving skill, the idea of track driving can vary widely. To a driving enthusiast, going to the track for a drive might be a dream activity, but for the average joe, it could be a daunting idea.
However, track driving doesn't have to be scary or dangerous. With the correct programme, the right instructors, adequate cars and a world-class racetrack, there is much to be learned from a day at the track. And this was what happened at the Zeekr Dynamic Experience that was held at Sepang Circuit.
You don't have to be a racecar driver to hit the track
Like how you don't have to be a pro-athlete to run at the local stadium tracks, you don't have to be a professional racecar driver to drive in a racetrack.
In fact, the Zeekr Dynamic Experience is precisely tailored to people who aren't familiar with track driving: The goal is an educational and enriching experience for the participants, allowing them to explore the limits of Zeekr cars, all while learning from the professional driving instructors conducting the event.
The Zeekr Dynamic Experience was a regional event that hosted the media and owners from Singapore and Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit, with a total of over 30 Zeekr X and Zeekr 7X for participants to experience.
With only 30 slots available to the Singapore owners, along with a truly attractive price of $400 to participate, all slots were briskly taken up. And most of the participants have never set foot on a racetrack prior to this.
Experiences that you'll only find on a racetrack
Nothing beats a proper racetrack as a venue for high-performance driving experiences. Safety precautions and legality aside, a racetrack like Sepang Circuit is made up of long straights, sweepers, tight and wide turns of different radiuses - features that you won't be able to find elsewhere, and won't be easy to replicate even with a large open area and cones.
For the Zeekr Dynamic Experience, obstacles including a slalom, high-speed lane changes and an acceleration and braking activity were set up on the track. This creates a holistic experience as participants were also able to drive on various segments of the 5,543m-long ex-F1 circuit.
Order of the day: A holistic dynamic experience
We arrived at the track after lunch, and were welcomed to the hospitality lounge, which has been outfitted with booths and challenges to keep everyone (even the non-drivers) engaged. Sitting right after the entrance are the three stars that Zeekr has brought along: The 009 luxury MPV takes centre stage while the 7X and a facelifted X were displayed to the side.
Head further in and you'll find activities including reaction tests, a marble maze and racing simulators - challenges that allow participants to win prizes that include branded merchandises from the brand. But of course, the real activity were the ones on the racetrack.
With over 30 cars on track, the participants were split into multiple sessions of six groups, each led by a professional driving instructor.
Our first activity was with the Zeekr 7X Performance, a dual-motor high-performance SUV that puts out 475kW (637bhp) and 710Nm of torque, it is capable of 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.
Each driver got to drive two laps on track, and through the various obstacles with the 7X Performance - the slalom was a great test of the car's stability and agility, and so was the high-speed lane change, meanwhile, the acceleration and braking segment allowed all participants to experience the century sprint and braking performance of the car in a safe environment.
From driving the 7X Performance on track, it was clear that there's a certain level of dynamism with this car. Even though it is an all-wheel drive, you can feel the eagerness to turn in upon application of more throttle - the traction control and torque vectoring system on the 7X isn't overly uptight. While the weight of the car is obvious upon braking, the car isn't tedious to drive briskly around the track.
After which, each driver switched over to the Zeekr X, the smaller, lighter and more agile crossover from the brand. And this time round, all obstacles were bypassed to allow a complete track driving experience while following behind the instructor's lead car.
An educational and enriching experience for all
At the end of the day, everyone got to experience the performance of the Zeekr EVs on track, and walked home with more than just fun memories.
During the course of the event, our instructor used a recording of one of the participant's driving to offer valuable insights on improving our driving habits and techniques. Poor posture, hand placement and the concept of target fixation were all patiently and clearly explained to us.
If you ask me, this was definitely a well-planned and executed track driving experience event, especially for the majority of drivers who aren't familiar with the world of performance driving. And performance driving aside, the habits instilled by the instructor are also applicable on road, and will surely create safer drivers.
As for me, I'm even more impressed by Zeekr products now - I loved the 7X and the X on Singapore roads, but this experience has shown me that premium EVs like the 7X can actually be rather enjoyable and adequate on track as well!
