Just got back from completing the BMW Driver Training course Fascination Racetrack at Phillip Island, Victoria Australia, home of the Australian leg of Moto GP World Championship.
hire car
circuit
Format
2 days, 3 instructors, 8 'students' 4 cars with 2 sharing each E92 M3.
Stayed at the Quest Hotel Apartments in Cowes, group dinner.
Certificate presentation at the end.
Coach and cars
My car for the 2 days
Track time
approx 2 hours as driver, 2 hours as passenger over the 2 days in 4 or 5 sessions.
Initially with cones marking entry points for each corner, and apex cones.
Entry cones were removed after the first track session, apex cones remained there and were removed for the last track session.
You spend time following one of the instructors, getting 2way radio feedback from them, with one of the other cars behind you (students).
Time also leading the instructor around.
track time
Skills taught
Heel-toe down change of gears - needs much practice to get this right!
Oversteer - I think I have found my niche! Enter a corner at 45km/h, power on, lose, off power, countersteer, power on to control slide/drift through corner and drive out of corner straight.
Braking - enter hair pin corner at 100-120km/h, hard on ABS, steer then ease off ABS to allow car to corner.
Double lane change - enter a series of cones 80 km/h, 90km/h, and 95km/h, swerve into left lane, brake and swerve back into right lane, and exit.
motorkhana- Over the 2 days there were 3 separate motorkhanas taking about 62 seconds, 42 seconds and 24 seconds. Start and finish in a 'garage', some slalom, chicanes, double lane changes, U-turn. You get to do each one about 8 times. There was a penalty of 2 seconds for hitting a cone. Times for each run counted, and you were awarded 1 point for the fastest time out of the 8 students, and 8 for the slowest. Prizes for places after the 2 days.
Other highlights - seeing E92 M3 convertible with DCT (no laps in that one sadly)
Overall a very enjoyable course.
The E92 M3 is a fantastic track car even with road tyres, very well balanced, good amount of power, nice shift.
Highly recommend it if you are at all interested, have a couple of spare days, and some spare $$.
sunset on trip back to Melbourne
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