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Track days. An event where petrolheads, young and old alike, are let loose in their cars on a race track, mostly to let off some steam that they can't release in everyday driving. Although I had some track experience earlier this year when Audi invited me for their Sportscar Experience in the R8 V10, I had never been to an open track day (The R8 V10 drive was done in a controlled environment, with instructors on hand to lead). So, when Audi (again. Aren't they nice people?) asked me if I wanted to join them on a track day adventure with the RS5, I certainly couldn't say no. For Singaporeans, the most obvious place to do a track day was Sepang. It was the nearest 'proper' racetrack to us, even though it's a good three hour drive from our sunny island. So, our day began early, as I joined Audi Singapore's Public Relations Manager Lee Nian Tjoe on the drive up North. We set off at around 7am, way too early for a Saturday morning. After clearing Customs at Tuas (which took a while as we had to jostle with the weekend crowd driving up as well), we opened the beans as we pointed the RS5 towards the direction of KL. True to the car's performance ability, it dispatched the journey with little fuss, and we reached our destination in just under three hours. Managing Director of Audi Singapore, Reinhold Carl, joined us after taking a flight from Singapore (which was delayed, meaning the car actually got to KL first. Score!), and once trackside, we parked the RS5 alongside the specially-prepared S4 trackcar that Audi regularly brings up to Sepang for such occasions. After a safety briefing (which was compulsory for all) and an orientation drive (I was a newbie after all), we were finally allowed to go out on our own. I was naturally cautious, but both experienced Audimen (that's a nice term) taught me plenty about track driving, about finding the right lines, braking and acceleration points, and etc. I didn't drive particularly fast, because 1) it was my virgin experience, 2) I was driving an almost $400,000 sports coupe and 3) I'm timid by nature. But it was still fun learning in a car as exciting as an RS5. With its Quattro all-wheel-drive, it was possible for one to overcook the limit and still not be killed (metaphorically of course). The most thrilling part though, was getting to go out on track in both the S4 track car and RS5, with Mr Carl at the wheel and me being passenger. It was then that I was truly shown the difference between an amatuer everyday driver (me) and a true motorsports enthusiast. I now have newfound respect for Mr Carl after laps of riding shotgun with the affable German, who displayed some rather awesome skills at late braking, four-wheel-drifting and sheer bravado. The weather started to open up as our session came to an end, and even though it was short (just about three hours), it was quite an enlightening experience. Given a free track, and enough time and guidance, I suppose I can make a decent fist of a lap at Sepang. But as Mr Carl pointed out during a chat, fitness is also important if one is to really cut it, because driving for hours on a track (especially one like Sepang, where the weather can be unforgiving) is quite taxing on the human body. And if there are other cars on the track, intense concentration is also very important as well, just to avoid crashing. So your mental and physical state has to be on top form to really be a competitive race driver. Looking at myself, I doubt that can really happen. But oh well. At least I had a go.

Attending a trackday is not something most Singaporeans get to do everyday, unless one is fairly well-off and is able to make multiple trips up north to sastify their inner racing desire. So when Audi arranged for its Driving Experience track day at Sepang during the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race 2011 weekend, with the Audi R8 V10 no less, there was much excitement going around. The privileged media were given the opportunity to explore the Sepang track, under the guidance of Audi's training instructors, which included Le Mans winner Marco Werner, former Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Daryl O'Young, and a familiar face, Top Gear Australia host Steve Pizzati. There was to be a planned morning session, where the instructors guided the participants to various driving techniques as well as learning the lines of the Sepang Circuit. Unfortunately, just as the sessions were to begin, the weather opened up and poured down. Nevertheless, after waiting a while for the rain to let up, the lessons continued, albeit a bit more carefully. Thankfully, the sun came out in the afternoon, and so the event was back in full force. To briefly summarise, each participant were first taken out on a taxi ride in the new Audi R8 GT, driven by either Marco Werner or Daryl O'Young. Subsequently, we were divided into groups, and were led out onto different sections of the tracks, to learn the various lines, apexes and braking points of the Sepang circuit. Following a short break, the teams were then now led out by the instructors' car for a full hot lap of the circuit. Each member in the group of four were given the chance to 'lead' the pack at least once, to fully utilise the skills picked up earlier in the day. What surprised me was that there was at least three sessions of circuit lapping, with each session consisting of about four laps each. So that meant that we drove the R8 V10 at full speed around Sepang for at least 12 laps. In the blazing Malaysian heat, it really sapped whatever energy you had, especially when you are concentrating fully on controlling the car at high speed. Fun it might be, but it was also extremely exhausting. But given the choice, I have absolutely no doubt that I will do it again.