BMW Advanced Driver Training @ Sepang (2013)

Pictures by BMW Malaysia / Aaron Lee

The BMW Advanced Driver Training program is a full-day experience held at the Sepang International Circuit in 2013, providing an exhilarating and informative experience for driving enthusiasts and BMW aficionados. Set in the dynamic environment of one of the world’s top racetracks, the event focused on honing advanced driving techniques, safety skills, and precision control. For this year's training, we were piloting the (then) new F30 328i Sport.

First things first: Rotational Steering Technique and Ideal Seating Position

One of the most important foundational techniques covered was the rotational steering method. Unlike traditional push/pull steering, this technique emphasizes smooth and assertive movements, including crossing our hands. This allows the driver to maintain a firm contact point on the wheel, to navigate the wheel faster, and always know where the wheels are pointing - especially for quick directional changes or navigating through obstacles.

Seating Position was another essential lesson. Drivers were taught how to adjust their seats for maximum control and better vision, keeping their arms slightly bent for optimal reach to the steering wheel and their legs positioned to apply full pedal pressure, especially in emergency situations. Proper seating reduces fatigue, improves reaction times, and enhances overall control.

We then moved from the classroom to the 1st hands-on exercise - a low speed slalom to practice steering technique. Each car was assigned 2 drivers that would swap for each exercise.

If you break the brake pedal, the car is free (we tried)

After working on steering, we moved to the braking exercises. To give us the confidence in the brake pedal - we were (jokingly) told whoever manages to snap the brake pedal would take a car home for free. Now, we had to brake from 50, then 60, then 70kmh as we crossed the gate. Our instructors first demonstrated the increase in braking distances with every 10kmh increase in speed, then it was our turn.

The average Malaysian driver will never have exerted enough brake pressure to activate ABS - and maintain said pedal force. When the pedal starts vibrating - an indication that ABS is working correctly - some drivers panic and reduce pedal force, hitting the car in front. It is a sensation that this training aims to normalise. Exercise complete, most of the participants were now able to consistently trigger ABS, and confidently rely on this system to retain control.

The single lane change maneuver

The next exercise involved steering around a simulated obstacle, moving 1 lane to the left or right in a precise fashion. This avoidance exercise was done at 50, 60 then 70kmh. Instructors explained the steering movement speed required outside the car, followed by a real demonstration. We were to maintain speed and not lift off the accelerator throughout the maneuver,

A common 'reflex' for the untrained driver is to lift-off the accelerator completely and abruptly when presented with an obstacle, or worse - to hit the brakes immediately. This unsettles the weight balance of the car, shifting weight to the front and reducing rear traction momentarily. Doing so encourages the rear of the car to slide out beyond the neighbouring lane during the rapid direction change, and potentially hitting another car or object. It was not as easy as the instructors made it look and was exponentially harder to get right at 70kmh.

Stacking techniques - steering & braking

With the 2 skills practiced separately, we now had to combine steering and braking into a single maneuver. Here, we applied emergency braking at the last cone in the 1st lane, and immediately lane change either to the left or right. The avoidance direction was called out at the last second by instructors. The hardest part was judging the steering turn-in and turn-out points.

I demonstrate below when I turned out too early, and clipped the inside cone of the lane change. This is a common mistake when anticipating the direction change. The exercise impressed the need to remain calm and 'wait' to steer the other way - to use the space available in the lane to our advantage and maximise our probability of successful avoidance.

Understeer & Oversteer .....with soap

The last training exercise of the day was probably the most fun - understeer and oversteer recovery on a soap water skid pan. Both scenarios require deliberate throttle and steering corrections. In both, we practiced lifting off the throttle, straightening the steering (for understeer), and turning into the slide (for oversteer). *Sadly this is not DRIFTING, that's reserved for Level 2 'intensive' training.

Amateur Autocross to finish the day

To wrap the day's driving, we were all thrust in the arena of battle in a small timed autocross circuit. The course combined all the exercises from the day - starting with a slalom, sharp U-turn, lane change and emergency braking to a box finish -without hitting the finish gate at the end.

Despite my best poker face to remain calm, there was definitely pressure - more so being car #1! Thankfully I did not incur any penalties from wrong-coursing, but I did hit 1 cone. My co-driver had the benefit of seeing my mistakes, and improved on my time after the swap. I'm not salty.

My biggest observations from this training:

1) I realised how little I really knew about emergency avoidance, and come away now equipped with techniques to practice and implement.

2) Modern car safety systems are helping us tremendously; many people underestimate the margins for error in reality even at 70kmh.

I look forward to participating in Level 2 Intensive Driver Training, where I was told exercises are conducted up to 90kmh....

A big thank you to BMW Malaysia for running this program!

Certificate presentation with BMW instructors Wong KK, Hamdan Rohman and Irwan Ismail.

Many thanks to these gentlemen for imparting knowledge and picking up cones for us!