Australia’s premium driver training experience, which commenced in 1998, will be revamped for 2010 with a new line-up of courses, new home-base and a wider variety of cars, including the program’s first diesel powered vehicle.

The revitalised BMW Driver Training will take up a more permanent base at Australia’s premier racetrack, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. This track will be the home of BMW Driver Training when not travelling interstate.

In addition, courses will be run in New South Wales at Eastern Creek Raceway and Queensland at the refurbished Lakeside Raceway.

“A number of changes have been implemented for 2010 to further improve BMW’s long-running Driver Training program and improve safety on Australian roads,” says Stavros Yallouridis, managing director of BMW Group Australia.

“A wider variety of cars, including the new 123d Sports Hatch and 135i Sport Coupé, as well as a revised course structure, will bring a new flavour to a program that refines the driving skills of Australians.

“The program will continue to offer customers and prospective customers the opportunity to excite the senses and educate the mind whilst giving people a taste of the latest technology and safety in true BMW fashion,” he says.

A new line-up of cars has been confirmed for BMW Driver Training.

For the first time, participants attending the Advanced I or Intensive courses will drive the multi-award winning BMW 135i Sport Coupé. Powered by an internationally lauded 225 kW twin turbo engine, the rear-wheel drive coupé will be a welcome addition to the program, joining the iconic BMW M3 Coupé and BMW M3 Sedan.

Reflecting the ever-changing tastes of buyers, the first diesel-powered BMW will also become part of the courses. The new M Sport-equipped twin turbo 123d Sports Hatch, with an output of 150 kW, will line up alongside the 135i, M3 Coupé and M3 Sedan.

“The BMW 123d Sport Hatch, equipped as it is with the latest EfficientDynamics technologies, will be an ideal showcase for the efficient and dynamic aspects of BMW’s range of cars,” says Yallouridis.

BMW will also include its silky smooth six-cylinder 323i Sedan equipped with the very popular M Sport package. Now available from $58,300, the BMW 323i has been selling up a storm since it was repositioned in September. The 323i Sedan was one of the inaugural cars used by BMW Driver Training when the program commenced locally in 1998.

All five cars will be driven by participants attending the Young Drivers or Advanced I courses and each participant will be taken on a hot lap in an M3 at the end of every session by one of driver trainers to truly experience the power of BMW M.

The driver training program is run entirely by BMW Group Australia and the curriculum has been developed with direct input from BMW M GmbH in Germany which has world-wide responsibility for BMW Driver Training.

Years of real life accident and driver performance research has been devoted to the task of refining the training curriculum in order to provide the necessary skills in the most effective manner.

Chief instructor for BMW Driver Training in Australia is 1993 Le Mans and 1997 Bathurst 1000 Champion Geoff Brabham.

The BMW Driver Training program consists of four courses.

The Young Drivers course is offered to those under the age of 25 who are on a probationary licence. The course, in 123d Sport Hatches, 135i Coupés and 323i Sedans, is run in conjunction with Advanced I and enables inexperienced drivers to acquire road-sense skills in their crucial early years behind the wheel.

The Advanced I course, for established drivers, is the ideal starting point towards a safer, more confident and enjoyable way of driving. This one-day course, in 123d Sport Hatches, 135i Coupés and 323i Sedans, covers key driving techniques and elements including braking and emergency avoidance manoeuvres. It also looks in-depth at typical driving scenarios encountered and how to respond to them effectively.

Intensive Training is an exciting entry-level course designed to provide a solid foundation for performance driving. This one-day course, in 135i Coupés, 323i Sedans and high performance M3 Sedans and Coupés, simulates a number of different situations that may be encountered at touring speeds, including oversteer and understeer experiences, ideal lines and high speed emergency braking.

After completing Intensive Training, drivers can further hone their driving skills with the high performance M Dynamic course personally conducted by BMW Chief Instructor Geoff Brabham. This action-packed one-day course delivers an unforgettable experience in the M3 Sedan and M3 Coupé.

Bookings and further enquiries should be directed to the BMW Driver Training freecall number 1800 000 269 or www.bmwdrivertraining.com.au