BMW M Power: testing the car maker's fastest autos

Cars that make you go M at an iconic Cheshire racetrack

If you’re a loyal customer of an enthusiastic car brand, you may have received an invite to a driving experience day at a racetrack. The manufacturers usually bring along all their hottest cars for you to sample, complete with racing drivers in the passenger seat to show you around the circuits those BTCC drivers normally ply their trade.

BMW is one such brand. Its M Power track days are held at all of the MSV racetracks, including Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Brands Hatch and now Donington. To find out what customers can expect, we went along to the M Power Oulton Park event. The half-day experiences are a short, sharp, Espresso-style performance hit jam-packed with M-powered motors.

First up, we drove a new M3, on a specially prepared handling course. Which was actually a car park packed out with cones, which someone had hosed down with water earlier on. The focus here isn’t on racecraft or improving your skills, but getting the tail out as far as possible, getting the tyres smoking as dramatically as possible. Hooligans will love it.

It wasn’t until we were out on track in the roll-cage-equipped M4 that things got serious. These were cars equipped with V-Box performance car telematics systems, so every aspect of our driving could be dissected. It was important to show off as much of our limited talent as possible, and not get distracted by Oulton’s many curves, undulations and challenging sequences.

Because the instructors are so helpful, you’re not thrown in at the deep end. They are on hand to help you perfect your lines, choose the right braking and acceleration points, generally go as fast as possible without spitting it off the racetrack. Once you tune into their commands, the advice is invaluable.

Late on, suitably briefed, it’s into the road cars out on track. We tried an M2, M4 and M6, enabling us to be like potential buyers and assess the relative attributes of each. The M2, for example, is a blast, with the M4 offering a stiffer and more serious interpretation of high performance. The M6 is savage, with sensational power to make up for a slightly ponderous feel through corners compared to the other two.

At the end of the sessions, there’s a final treat – hot laps in a BMW M235i driven by touring car race winner Paul O’Neill. Our ride included moments where all four wheels were in the air, the rear ones were full-on sideways a lot of the time and, through one of Oulton’s most challenging corners, we got closer to the limit than we’ve perhaps ever been in any car. Brilliant.

And you even get lunch, alongside other equally adrenaline-fuelled like-minded enthusiasts. It’s a brilliant event, which you can get invited to by your BMW dealer, or pay £600 to attend whether you’re a BMW owner or not. Given how much driving you do, we’d consider it a bit of a bargain. Looking for the perfect high-performance day out in BMW’s fastest new cars? Try a BMW M Power day: you won’t regret it.

Rob Adams is a writer for PistonHeads.