MULTI-TITLED racecar driver JP Tuason has been certified a BMW M Driver Trainer, becoming the first Filipino to qualify in the carmaker’s advanced training program. He now joins an elite pool of only 160 M-certified instructors around the world.

Tuason, who is founder and president of the Tuason Racing School (TRS), had undergone an intensive two-month training program in BMW’s facilities in Munich, Germany, and in Salzburg, Austria, driving various BMW cars, to get the certification. As an M trainer, he is allowed to officially certify participants in BMW Driving Experience programs held anywhere in the world.

“It is such a great honor to be part of this elite team. The theory and driving exercises were difficult for me and my more experienced classmates,” Tuason bared, noting that together with him in the training course were two BMW factory racecar drivers, a Swedish rally driver, a formula car driver from Mexico, a German rally champion, an engineer who helped build the new BMW M3, an AMG trainer and a Porsche instructor.

“Although I have had years of training experience and racing background, it was still very hard,” he said.

The Driving Experience—designed by professional instructors, BMW engineers and drivers—is tailored to match the skill of participants to the venue and the type of BMW vehicle highlighted in a given event. BMW conducts it in Europe, Middle East, Australia, the US and, occasionally in Asia. The program involves tackling basic safe-driving techniques or advanced, racetrack driving, as well as courses on different terrains like snow and sand.

Asian Carmakers Corp. (ACC), the distributor of BMW in the Philippines, said that Tuason’s certification is a significant development for the company.

“With the launch of BMW M cars in the Philippines, it is important for us to give our customers the proper training and experiences so they can enjoy their BMWs without limits,” said ACC President Maricar Parco. “We are very pleased to have the first Filipino M-certified trainer in JP Tuason. This certainly means our customers and other BMW enthusiasts will have driving experiences to look forward to next year.”

Tuason’s certification should also benefit TRS as the school trains or lectures to around 4,000 students every year. TRS is the longest-running and only professionally managed driver-training school in the Philippines, and conducts various road safety and racing programs.

Tuason boasts a successful career in motor sports that spans more than 24 years. He has had stints in karts (representing the country in the Karting World Finals in Japan and Egypt), circuit cars, rally and Formula 3. He raced sports cars in Nurburgring, Germany, in May and in Spa Franconchamps, Belgium, in August.