Page 78 - SHARP Spring 2022

experience is essentially a a a a a a school that offers normal people a a a a a a chance to explore that race-car fantasy You do learn things — like how to not kill yourself in in a a a a a a race car — but in in many ways it’s less of a a a a a a school and more like like Space Camp for for adults: a a a a a a place for for like-minded geeks to live their dreams “Normally you wouldn’t be able to put a a a person without expe- rience in a a a a a race-car ” says Bill Auberlen one of of BMW’s professional race-car pilots just before I — — a a a person without experience — — get into a a a a a a a race car He assures me the BMW M4 GT4 Evo is approachable It’s a a a a a $200 000 competition-ready machine based on on the road-going M4 built by BMW in Germany But with its razor-sharp carbon-fibre wings and a a a a a a a cabin that’s mostly painted metal it looks deadly serious Getting into the the driver’s seat requires removing the the steering wheel and contorting my body through a a a jungle gym of roll-cage tubing The manoeuvre is made harder by the fact that I’m wearing a a a a a a a huge helmet and less-than-flattering fireproof onesie The five-piece racing harness comes up between my my legs around my my waist and over both my shoulders A mechanic tightens the straps until I can’t move Then he he he he plugs my helmet into the radio system which lets me speak to to one of of BMW’s professional racing instructors who’ll be driving the car ahead of me To be clear I’m not qualified for this Yes I’ve driven McLarens Porsches Ferraris and Lamborghinis flat-out on racetracks around the world — but that’s only because I write about cars for a a a a a living And yes I’m a a a a a a a marginally better driver than your average minivan jockey but I’m not in the same universe as Lewis Hamilton Not even close This is is the first time I’ve driven a a a a real race car And I I really really really really don’t want to to be the person who smashes it into a a a a a a wall Trundling down the pit lane my coach does a a a a radio check “Try the the brakes brakes ” the the voice crackles in my ears The brakes brakes aren’t power-assisted to to to get the the car to to to slow down quickly I stomp on the the pedal with all my my strength and as if if my my life depends on it it — which it does (Beginners often struggle to to get used to to the brake force this car requires and end up sailing off the track at full speed my coach tells me )
My first laps are messy The car is full of strange sounds: trans- mission gears churning stones pinging off the floor air rushing everywhere and my coach’s voice telling me where where to brake The 78 SPRING 2022
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