M4 GT4 experience @ Thermal BMW performance center

[E46M3forRay]

Did the M4 GT4 experience yesterday at thermal in exchange for the M drivers package I received from my M2 CS purchase and just paid the difference. I’ve done all the other M school offered at Thermal and just having the experience to get suited up to drive the M4 GT4 race car is just on another level even for just having the seat time of just under 45 min. If you haven’t been inside a race car, it feels claustrophobic and you’re also well strapped in sunked into those deep race buckets. During the first 5-10 min being on the track, i start to feel a bit queasy and I held it up not to ruin this best experience ever. Glad as I felt more comfortable going faster, it went away.

This was a lead follow where the instructor will be in front on a G80 M3 and based on your track progression and comfortability on the M4 GT4, they will go much quicker.

The chain of events beginning to end as follows:
- Less than an hour quick track overview
- Drive the M2C around the autox for about an hour
- Go back in to get sized and suited up. They provide the suit, helmet, socks, shoes and gloves. (Brought my own helmet but not needed because their helmet is wired with a mic for comm)
- Drive the G82 M4 at the south track
- Lunch
- Drive the M2C again for an autox timed competition
- Drive the M4 GT4 at the south track for less than 45min
- Drive the G82 M4 again for a quicker lap lead follow
- Announce who was the fastest in autox
- End with a nice alcoholic beverage of choice


A great experience overall and am very glad I chose this class. I actually wouldn’t recommend this class if you haven’t done any of their M Class offering. Nonetheless, if you’ve done lots of HPDEs like I have, it may help but you wouldn’t appreciate the BMW instructors who are very helpful and thorough and are great on doing what they do best and that is to teach the proper line. I got chewed a few times by the instructor because of missing tight apexes LOL

To top my experience of, bringing home another shiny gold medal for being the fastest on the auto x made it all an incredible experience.

Videos are up:

[E46M3forRay]

[chmura]

Congrats! Looks like an awesome event.

I got 2nd place in the Autox course. Think there were 80 drivers that day.

[Golden3ye]

Sounds like an amazing experience. When I went for the m drivers class I got nearly dead last for autocross. I’ve really felt like I was going fast but got a reality check

[mfarrzhp]

I did the GT4 experience last year. It was great. My only complaint is that it felt like the traction control was too restrictive in the race car. Might be my driving style and probably a good thing for my first run at a true race car.

I managed to grab silver in the M2 autocross. We may have a slight advantage owning basically the same car.

Unfortunately, we were still using the street F82 M4s for the hot laps back then. I would have liked to experience the G82.

I’d also highly recommend the experience, especially at the subsidized rate.

[E46M3forRay]

Originally Posted by chmura

Congrats! Looks like an awesome event.

I got 2nd place in the Autox course. Think there were 80 drivers that day.

This class was very limited i believe with a max of 13 students. Glad there were only 6 of us as you get more track to yourselves.

Originally Posted by Golden3ye

Sounds like an amazing experience. When I went for the m drivers class I got nearly dead last for autocross. I’ve really felt like I was going fast but got a reality check

This may be the last year the F82 GT4 before they replace it with the G82 GT4. One of the guys in my class race motorcycles who was racing the day before at Chuckwalla next town over and had a hard time with the autox. He is Dave on the list

Originally Posted by mfarrzhp

I did the GT4 experience last year. It was great. My only complaint is that it felt like the traction control was too restrictive in the race car. Might be my driving style and probably a good thing for my first run at a true race car.

I managed to grab silver in the M2 autocross. We may have a slight advantage owning basically the same car.

Unfortunately, we were still using the street F82 M4s for the hot laps back then. I would have liked to experience the G82.

I’d also highly recommend the experience, especially at the subsidized rate.

Could definitely go faster on the M4 GT4. I was warned by the instructor that the GT4 will be faster on the corners for obvious reasons and will catch up really quick with the G82 M4. Clearly the G82 M4 was faster on the straights and i can feel the straight line handicap.

Was also really impressed how the G82 M4 road car was more compliant, easier to drive than the F82 M4 i drove last at that track.

[E46M3forRay]

2nd video finally up. Complete breakdown of my experience with the M4 GT4 experience at the BMW performance center.

[E90convert]

Thanks for sharing that really cool experience. Are the G82 and M2C cars completely stock? Impressive if they can take a beating all day all the time in that heat.

[E46M3forRay]

Yes - it’s all stock. Also equipped with CCBs.

[E46M3forRay]

Looks like there's only 2 classes left in this year's calendar (April and Dec) and I'm guessing, this could be the last of the F82 GT4 outing before they switch over to the G82 GT4.

April is fully booked.