BMW Motorrad works riders Leon Haslam and Troy Corser switched from two wheels to four for a very special driving experience. The two team-mates swapped their BMW S 1000 RR bikes for a BMW 330i to complete a personalised driver training session in Munich. This Personal Coaching is part of the Customized Experience training programme offered by the BMW Group within the framework of the BMW Driving Experience.
BMW instructor Jörg Weidinger began the “driving lesson” at the BMW Driver Training centre at Munich Airport by gaining an impression of what each of the top motorcyclists was capable of. He then selected appropriate exercises, which were tailored to the individual needs of Leon and Troy.
“You can tell that they are both used to pushing a vehicle to the limit. That was no problem for them,” Weidinger remarked. “They were not the only ones enjoying themselves out there – I was too. You can tell that they are hungry to learn. They asked questions and took advice on board in order to improve and get faster.”
The first task in the intense training programme was to find the ideal seat position. Troy and Leon were then able to develop a feel for the BMW 330i on a small slalom course. The next exercise saw them practice changing lane in standard road traffic. In the drifting section of the course, the BMW instructor showed the two motorcyclists how it is also possible to control an unstable car. They also learned how to spin the car 180° whilst travelling in reverse. It goes without saying that competitive elements were also integrated, such as a circular pursuit race and, finally, a timed race through a slalom course. “Troy won this with a really excellent time for this course,” said BMW instructor Weidinger.
“It was fantastic fun. It was a great experience drifting and pulling off manoeuvres that you simply cannot perform in normal road traffic,” said Troy. “The BMW 330i was really fun and handled very well. The instructor taught us a lot, including handbrake turns and how to control the car properly. The wet-track driving, in which we were able switch from dry to wet conditions, was also good. It was very interesting, for example, to witness how the tyre grip and braking properties change.”
Leon agreed: “It was awesome. It was exciting to switch off the traction control and put your foot down. You really feel the power of the engine then. I would not necessarily like to do something like that on a normal road. Things like drifting, reversing and donuts were great fun. Ok, Troy may have beaten me in the races, but it was still excellent to have that competitive element.”
Troy and Leon now return to action on two wheels: this weekend sees the Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport travel to Monza for the fourth round of the 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship.
