Behind the Wheel of the M4 GT4

In a world obsessed with downforce-happy racecars, finding one that actually makes you work for adhesion is like spotting a Birkin at a sample sale—rare, thrilling, and oh-so-rewarding. This weekend at Sebring International Raceway, I had the privilege of getting behind the wheel of such a machine: the Turner Motorsports M4 GT4.

Given my driving background and the car’s balanced, compact stature, I slid into the driver’s seat expecting to keep my foot planted on the skinny pedal well before the apex. But plot twist—this car had something many others don’t: insane mechanical grip. And it made sure I knew it.

After a session filled with straight-line braking and wrestling some seriously unrelenting understeer, Ryan Wagoner, owner of Road2Racers, sat me down for a film review. No words were needed. One look at the playback, and the mistake was glaringly obvious—I was driving a GT4 IMSA car like it was a Miata. Cue the collective sigh. Ryan and I now had one mission: breaking my number one Miata habit—early and aggressive throttle.

For the next four sessions, Ryan played co-pilot, talking me through every move, which mostly consisted of one critical command: STOP getting on the gas so soon.

Weighing in at just over 3,000 pounds and packing a little over 400 horsepower at its peak setting, “nimble” isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind for the M4 GT4. And yet, in a poetic twist, the moment I changed my mindset, the car transformed.

Thanks to its adjustable splitter, teardrop-shaped control arms, and air-channeling setup, this car thrives on rolling speed without constant throttle input. The secret? Trail braking and weight transfer. Once I learned to rotate the car with the brakes rather than just shift its weight, everything clicked. The speed came naturally, and before I knew it, I was piecing together a lap I could actually be proud of.

And let’s be real—this GT4 car, at any pace, is pure magic. Some of the most fun I’ve had at the track in forever. The Road2Racers experience? Next level. It completely opened my eyes to the different styles of sports car driving, proving that whether you're a seasoned IMSA driver looking for seat time or a die-hard fan dreaming of getting behind the wheel of a real GT4 machine, this is the place to do it. They rent out the Turner car nearly every weekend, complete with coaching, video, and—best part?—zero prior experience required. No gatekeeping here. Just pure, unfiltered speed.

Candidly? The Turner Car is one of the greatest cars I’ve ever driven.

Lesson learned: Sometimes, it's not the car that needs adjusting—it's the driver.