BMW Track Days Are The Most Eventful Sessions

The BMW track days are not just about testing vehicles or watching other people race. You can actually sit behind the steering wheel and floor that gas pedal as much as you want. There are plenty of events in which participants can compete and try out their driving skills. Here is all that we would be covering in this article: 

The real thrill of the circuits can be experienced in events or challenges like skid pad, 0-60 challenge, lead follow, and more. As long as you are an owner of a BMW that was purchased in 2023, you can reserve two seats for BMW M Track Days. You will drive a number of BMW cars under the guidance of professional instructors.

What Exactly Are BMW Track Days?

A track day is when brands or multiple brands along with sponsors organize race events for people to ride on a specific circuit. The races can be on bikes or they can include cars only.

The people taking part in the races can either be members of the hosting organizations or they can choose to let non-members participate in them as well. However, one needs to have a racing license besides one’s driver's license to take part and sometimes there are fees involved as well.

These events also include guides, instructors, and experienced professionals to help the participants with their cars and the races. Most track days are organized in collaboration with racing schools and there are also specific rules and regulations to maintain optimum safety for all participants.

In the STREET category, individuals have the flexibility to drive or test BMW M production models according to their preferences, with or without professional guidance.

For the RACE segment, both novice and seasoned racing enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience the performance of BMW M customer racing cars.

What Are Its Main Events?

BMW track days may appear similar to events hosted by other companies, but it is substantially different. These track days are open to everyone, which eliminates the need for an exclusive membership or a brand-specific invitation. Simply pay the event fees, but ensure you have your license and gear to actively participate.

There is another interesting fact that will get you hooked. There are multiple examples of automotive brands offering performance cars to their customers while those cars merely survive two or three hard laps before wearing out the shoe brakes or starting to suffer from overheating.

BMW is an exception in this case as most of the cars from the brand that take part in track days are living proof of how durable they are and how incredible their performances are. However, you will only be allowed to drive BMWs and any other automobile is off the limits here.

Now, let us tell you about the types of experience you can have on a BMW track day, also termed as M Track Day.

• Sprint: It is a half-day event that includes Lead-Follow Lapping, 0-60 drag-race challenge, and Timed Autocross. The entry fee for the Sprint events is $ 625 only.
• Endurance: This is a full-day experience that comes with 3 sessions instead of two and the most attractive part here is the one-on-one time with a BMW Motorsport Professional Driver. It also includes the skid pad event alongside all the events from the Sprint schedule. The entry fee for the Sprint events is $ 1,250 only.

Each of the events has its own charisma and it would be a shame to miss even one of them -

• Lead Follow: Take your skills to the next level and learn advanced driving theory simply by following the BMW professional driving instructions through the track. This is an ultimate driving experience that makes you feel the rush from the start to the final flag.
• Timed Autocross: This is the ultimate race against time where every second counts. The BMW Professional Driving Instructors will guide you with advanced directions and with the M240xi you will have both the power and precision for the course.
• 0-60 Challenge: This is the supreme drag race where you test your take-off and combat head-on with the competitors. This is a high-speed, high-stake challenge that offers you a thrill that you have experienced never before.
• Skid Pad: This is to challenge your drifting skills on the wet skid pad with the arguably quickest street-legal car from BMW, the M5. However, the skid pad is not included in the half-day event.
• Hot Laps: This is quite different from the other events as you will not be handling the steering here. The BMW Professional Driving Instructor, instead, will give the thrill and experience of ultimate precision and proficiency.
• Street Drivers: This is more like a test drive than a competition and you will be offered a range of the latest BMW models to experience their potency and exclusivity.

What Are Some Commonly Used Cars During Track Days?

When it comes to selecting a car for these high-performance events, several models stand out as popular choices due to their dynamic capabilities and adrenaline-pumping driving experiences. Here are the top 3 commonly used BMW cars that were used in the Track Days:

3. 2023 BMW M240i xDrive

The BMW M240i xDrive, valued at $50,900, stands out as a frequent participant in M Track Days. It comes with a 3.0L turbocharged Inline-6 engine that offers 382 hp of power and 369 lb.-ft of maximum torque.

The 8-speed shiftable automatic gearbox is definitely one of the smoothest that you can get your hands on and the all-wheel drivetrain is meant for superior performance. The M240i has the M active suspension as standard as well as all the advanced safety features.

The emergency braking preparation and the emergency braking assist are good inclusions as well. The large 20-inch with the ventilated discs and anti-lock braking ensure superb braking performance.

2. 2023 BMW M4 Competition

The BMW M4 Competition comes with a 3.0L turbocharged Inline 6-cylinder engine and has a price tag of $79,000 in the current market. The 8-speed automatic transmission only takes 3.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH and the top speed of 155 MPH is good enough for the tracks.

The M Carbon Ceramic Ventilated disc brakes along with ABS offer impressive performance on the 20-inch alloy wheels. The all-wheel drive coupe has all the latest and technologically advanced safety aspects like pre and post-collision safety, driver attention alert, rear cross-traffic alert stability, and traction control among others. 

BMW has also introduced the CSL limited-edition track-focused model to the M4 lineup. The M4 CSL boasts an impressive 543 horsepower, a 40-horsepower increase from the M4 Competition while shedding a claimed 240 pounds. Notable weight reductions include the removal of rear seats and features like a titanium exhaust system, carbon fibre roof, hood, trunk, lightweight seats, and carbon ceramic brakes.

1. BMW M5 Competition

The BMW M5 Competition comes with a price tag of $107,900 and is equipped with a 4.4L M Performance twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The power output is 617 hp and the maximum torque is 553 lb.-ft.

The 8-speed M STEPTRONIC automatic transmission comes with Drivelogic while the Launch Control and paddle shifters are mounted on the steering wheel for easier access and a smoother driving experience. It takes just 3.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH and is quicker than the BMW M5.

The larger and exclusive 20-inch forged aluminum wheels beautifully complete the gloss black exterior. The all-wheel drivetrain is fitted with the active M suspension and electronically controlled dampers that come alongside M-specific kinematics. The suspension is also lower than the base M5 and includes a stiffer anti-roll bar, damper tuning, and a revised spring.