Since owning it, I have spent a lot of time driving my M340i. I even tried my hand at drifting, and with a bit of work, it went rather well. So, when I heard that the BMW M Drift Academy was coming to Delhi, there was no way I was going to miss it. More than that, I was not going to miss the opportunity to make an M4 go sideways.
While I have tried my hand at it, I have not had a lot of seat time drifting, probably an hour or so before this. You see, ever since I got my hands on my BMW M340i, I have known it is a quick car. If it were the olden days, I think it would have made for a legendary sleeper. Moreover, it delivers such performance that it motivates you to keep trying new stuff. And I have been fascinated by drifting for years.
At the BMW M Drift Academy, there were a few cars to choose from. There was an M2, an M4, and even the M5 made an appearance. It was really hard to pick a car. The M2 seemed like a perfect choice. It is rear-wheel drive and a small, compact car. It would certainly be easier to drift in compared to my M340i. Yet, I went with the M4. The reason behind that is simple… if I ever upgrade from my M340i, the M4 Competition would be the car I go for. And this was my chance to get a feel for it.
The M4 I got here makes around 530 horses, roughly 150 more than the M340i. That difference is noticeable. The M340i is no slouch, but the M4 is something entirely different. Now, one thing to note here is that the M4 is also xDrive or all-wheel drive, like my M340i. But I guess we are already past that thanks to xDelete, something I talked about in another piece when I was learning to drift.
Back to the task at hand, my first few attempts at drifting with the M4 were a stark reminder that more power and keeping the throttle pinned isn’t always the way to go. Compared to my M340i, the M4 has a much sharper throttle response. So it took me a while to get used to it and dial my inputs in. Another difference was that I was going at it on a circular drift pad rather than simply going around a cone. This is where the briefing and the tips shared by BMW’s trainers earlier helped a lot.
Then we moved on to figure-of-eights. And again, a completely different task in the M4. During this bit, you are constantly changing direction while managing the throttle. And all this while, your muscle memory is trying to dial in your inputs based on what the car is doing underneath you. There were occasions where I was too quick and a few instances where the drift broke, or I spun out.
The order of the day was control and smoothness. Drifting to me is mostly aesthetic, so obviously, grace is more important than speed. The same thing was conveyed to us in the briefing as well: control and technique over faster drifts. Slowly, I got the hang of it. Also, one of the best things about drifting is how it is perceived and how it is done. On the outside, it looks like chaos, but inside the car, it is surprising how much precision and control are involved in getting things right.
Mr Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India
After a few practice runs, it was time for a test, something I hadn’t been a part of for a long time. We were about to be graded! The scoring was simple enough: there was a total of 24 points, 3 points for each successful figure-of-eight and three for each circle. 18 was the threshold to earn a drift pilot certificate.
Then it began. I managed 12 points for the circles and 9 for the figure-of-eights. So, I scored 21 out of 24. Not perfect, but not too shabby either. I also realised a few things during this test. Drifting is about the relationship between the car and the traction. During the test, there was water on the surface, so it was really easy to overdo things.
On a couple of occasions, I spun the car more than I would have liked. This is the balance one has to strike in drifting. Not only do you have to do everything right, but it also has to look good. Lose your line or spin out, and suddenly, it starts to look awkward even if you feel like you are doing everything right. A good drift is about more than going sideways… it is about making it look deliberate.
Regardless, I got the certificate. But more importantly, I learned something important. Drifting is not just about techniques memorised. It is about the car as well. No matter how good you get at it, if there’s a new car, you need to familiarise yourself with it. The whole experience of driving the M4 also left me wondering how the M340i would feel now. I mean 400 horses isn’t slow… but 530 is more.
According to BMW India, the idea behind the M Drift Academy is to give enthusiasts a controlled environment where they can experience what the M cars can do. The Delhi academy is currently a Level One programme, covering the fundamentals before potentially expanding into more advanced levels depending on interest.
And I agree. Experiencing an M car on the racetrack is very different from keeping it under control while deliberately breaking traction. Drifting teaches you about throttle control, steering and weight transfer in an entirely different way. I came in with very little experience of drifting but left with a much better understanding of how a car behaves when you want to smoke some tyres.
It was an eventful day to say the least, and an equally enthralling after-party topped it off. BMW car and motorcycle owners all around, BMW officials, my own M340i flanked by M cars, and Arjun Rampal as the DJ of the night… what’s not to like!
