Some days are just better than others, and when I got a call from BMW to see if I would like to be involved in a press day at Mondello involving some M Series cars , I knew it was one of the better days. Firstly, it was always going to be a yes to the invitation and it was also going to be a good day. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the M Series cars from BMW, they are normal cars which have been given to the motorsport division of the company, who then turn your everyday car into a fast road car with a serious racing pedigree. The BMW driving experience powered by M at Mondello Park is a new venture at the Kildare track.

On the day of the experience I was told to arrive at the circuit for a certain time. I of course arrived early in case I might miss something. Once at the circuit I was collected from the car park in a very comfy 5 Series Touring and whisked into the pit area and shown to an over-grid garage suite, where there was good coffee and sugary treats to make sure I was fully alert before hitting the track. A safety briefing was given and all the essential safety information was imparted to me and my fellow wannabe racing drivers. This was followed by the obligatory waiver signing and the always unnerving next of kin question.

The Mini Cooper

Once all the talking was done I was paired up with my instructor for the experience. First port of call was to find a helmet to fit my sizeable skull and hopefully protect what few brain cells are in there. From there it was on to the training car, a Mini Cooper. This little car packs some serious punch with 192bhp on tap. Using the Mini to get to know the circuit and for the instructor to tell you where to brake and accelerate is essential if you are to make the most of the serious cars to follow.

Once the three sighting laps are done it is then on to the first of the M cars.

The M2

This car is based on the 2 Series Coupe. Walking up to it you can see that it means business by its stance and seriously grippy looking rubber. Climbing into the driver’s seat you can see that this is a very different car to the little Mini.

The instructor pushed lots of button in order to disable some of the driver aids but not so many as to make the car difficult to drive for non-professionals. As we set off from the pit lane in the M2, pulling gears using the flappy paddle gear shift on the wheel, the speed was impressive but not mind-blowing. The 370 odd horsepower doesn’t seem as threatening as it does on the public road. This is because of the lack of other cars and all the dangers of on-road driving.

With the help of my instructor I soon got into the swing of the little BMW. I found it to be very agile and very easy to drive quickly. The feel from the steering, the impressive acceleration and even more impressive braking capability made the M2 a very driver friendly car on track, even for someone with minimal track experience. After what felt like about 30 seconds but according to my instructor was five laps of the national circuit, it was time to head back to the pits to collect the M4.

The M4

While waiting around at the start of the day the one stand-out thing was the noise which the M4 was making as it was passing the garages each lap. The straight six-cylinder makes a stunning noise when it is being given the beans.

Once strapped into the most powerful car of the day, producing 431bhp, it was time to see if what I had learned in the other two cars would convert to getting the most from the M4. The extra power and rawness is immediately apparent as it needs you to select a gear at a serious rate to get up to speed.

Now that I knew where to brake and where to make steering inputs and use the go pedal, the M4 was an absolute pleasure to drive at silly speeds. The speed was very close to twice the national jeep-and-trailer limit as I passed the finish line each lap. The ability of this car to grip, turn and instil confidence in you as a driver is phenomenal. Yet again the old adage that time flies when you are having fun, came through as my instructor yet again seemed to cut my fun short.

Once back at the pits and out of the sweaty helmet and hair net. My instructor organised my certificate to say I had completed the course and left me with some good advice: “Don’t use anything I have tavught you on your way home”.

The BMW driving experience powered by M at Mondello Park is a must for any car fan or anyone interested in seeing what these road-legal racers are capable of in a safe and friendly environment.