Getting fast and fabulous with BMW M

After a full day of intense driving with a range of BMW M cars, I walked away with a certificate stating that I have successfully completed the BMW Advance 1 Driving Experience.

It was an easy experience for me because it is the second time I'm doing this course. My first time was in 2016, which took place at the BMW Driving Academy Maisach in Munich.

Regardless of place and time, both experiences were fast and fabulous, with a range of fast BMW M cars that were ready to rumble.

This time round in Australia, the BMW M2, M3, M4 as well as the M240i represented the BMW M model range. Every model was used as an excellent training tool for the participants to develop essential driving techniques and safety skills by understanding the cars' behaviours and their capabilities.

Thus, to fully utilise and get used to all that Bavarian power available on tap, my first exercise was doing easy hot laps around the 5.3km-long circuit with the BMW M240i.

Then the driving activities increased with difficulty. I had to perform high speed braking while avoiding an 'obstacle' on the road, with the help of BMW's Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) system.

Cones were used to mimic a stationary 'obstacle', but avoiding it is not the problem. It is waiting for a red light signal to come on, which is merely a few metres away from the 'obstacle', before performing the sudden lane change that is challenging.

Derek Walls, BMW Driving Experience's Chief Instructor, advised, "You cannot do anything once you are tensed up. You must be able to control the car without letting your nerve get the better of you. And to do that, you need to relax your grip with the steering wheel and look far."

Thankfully for his advise, I was the only one amongst my group of six participants who managed to clear this course with flying colours. I looked away from the obstacle without any tension built up and no cones were killed in the process.

Cones were safe, that I could guarantee. However, I almost got myself killed in a BMW M3 at the last and most difficult course - drifting on wet tarmac with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) switched off.

The exercise is to trigger the DSC into action by accelerating at a turn and stabilising the car, which it did. Switch the system off, however, and the overpowered 431bhp sedan proved to be too much for this undersized, underpowered driver.

On my first run, I powered hard out from a row of cones to my right. Revs climb, power came on quickly and I corrected my steering a little too late. Before I knew it, I was spinning right round and round like a record.

I must have done at least five runs and spun frantically at least five times before recalling Derek's words of wisdom. I realised I was too tensed up and the pressure of wanting to drift like a professional driver got the better of me.

I went for my last two runs. With a grip that was more relaxed and a mind with lesser distractions, I was able to perform a decent drift without losing control, even if it lasted only a couple of seconds.

I continued my state of relaxed mind onto the highlight of the day, which was driving the BMW M4 Coupe round the track hard and fast. Thanks to its taut chassis, accurate steering and raging 3.0-litre six-cylinder powerplant, the car handled the track with unconditional poise.

It was furiously fast and extraordinarily engaging. I, on the other hand, was neither as fast nor was I extraordinary in any way, but I was definitely enjoying every second of the track drive.

Like myself, you do not need to be a BMW owner to sign up for this course. The BMW Advance 1 Driving Experience course costs about $1,380. This estimated rate does not include your airfare and accommodation.