MOTORSPORTS group SG Trackies has always professed that 'all kinds of vehicles are welcome on the track'. Ford Motor Company calls its S-Max seven-seater a sports car that 'demands to be driven'.

The two seemingly innocent ideas faced off two weeks ago when the S-Max made its maiden trip up north, to the Sepang F1 Circuit.

It was a sight to behold. Amid the hardcore drivers with dedicated race machines were a slew of newbies who came in fast-looking machines as well as ho-hum family sedans and hatches.

The S-Max's attempts at blending in failed miserably - it stood out like a skyscraper in a village of attap huts.

To truly test the S-Max and the ideals of the SG Trackies, the tall family-mover was piloted by seasoned track drivers, including the founder of SG Trackies Bernard Lim.

Engineer by weekday and avid track warrior on weekends, he is so committed to the cause of 'attacking Sepang' that he has already reserved a spot for himself on this year's Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race in a specially prepared Honda Integra Type-R.

At Sepang, Mr Lim, 38, readily agrees to take a break from the Honda to give the Ford a go.

After a shaky start that basically involves looking for the handbrake (the S-Max has a unique set-up where the handle looks more at home in a cockpit) and asking if the car is front-wheel-drive and whether the automatic gearbox has a 'sports' mode (yes, on both counts), he lets it rip.

Like a seasoned shopper at an 'everything must go' sale, the S-Max leaps from the pit lane. Turn 1 is taken with no uncertain hint of caution as the S-Max works its charm.

'It doesn't lean as much as I expect an MPV to,' says Mr Lim as he flicks the wheel to set up for the next series of bends. 'Quite accurate, this steering.'

He continues as the 2.3-litre engine gives it all it's got, the inner wheel just clipping the edge of a corner.

Lap 1 passes without incident. More laps follow. With more than 1.5 tonnes to shift, the 160bhp engine feels inadequate and the transmission's response is not quite as quick as in other track candidates. The brakes, however, hold up bravely.

Against my better judgment, I egg Mr Lim on to have one more go - against the clock. By the time the S-Max passes the finishing line, a good 3 minutes and 33 seconds have gone by.

For reference, the timing is about a minute behind a souped-up Evo. Yes, the S-Max is not exactly greased lightning, but its composure in this very unusual environment is commendable.

And when it was time for the exhausted drivers to make that long drive home, guess which car came up as top choice.

The Ford S-Max is powered by Caltex with Techron.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on May 31, 2008.