You Be The Driver
- Brand
- BMW
- Year
- 2008
- Objective
- Awareness
- Industry
- Automotive
- Mechanic
- Racing & Sports
- Platform
- Web
- Agency
- Hello Design
Objective
During the 2008 season, with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld fighting near the front of the constructors' championship, BMW Sauber wanted a way for fans to engage with the team beyond watching races. The pitch was to turn the abstract idea of driver skill — reflexes, pit-lane precision, feel for the racing line — into something anyone could try for themselves in a browser.
Solution
A promo page opens with a single LAUNCH GAME button, which pops the game into its own window. First up is a reaction test: click the moment a mark appears on screen. Next comes a pit stop — stop a moving bar dead-centre with the spacebar, then hammer the spacebar to rev the engine before time runs out. The final stage is a track run: steer along the racing line, dodge red × hazards, and grab green markers for speed and points. Each stage is scored and can be retried on the spot, and the three scores roll up into a final results screen where the player can check their standing on a leaderboard. Wallpapers and screensavers are offered as a takeaway once the run is over.
- 1
The player opens the promo page for the BMW Sauber F1 Team and clicks a single LAUNCH GAME button, which opens the game in a separate browser window.
- 2
The first test, the Reaction Challenge, has players click marks on screen as fast as they appear, with the game clocking the speed of each click. A results screen rates the run and offers a retry, letting players post a faster score before moving on.
- 3
The Pit Stop Challenge asks players to time a sweeping bar with the spacebar to park the car dead-centre in its box, then immediately tap the spacebar as fast as possible within a ten-count to rev the engine to maximum. A stop that takes too long fails the attempt, while a clean stop with maxed revs launches the car strongly out of the pit lane.
- 4
The Track Challenge sends the car down a course where players dodge red × marks while grabbing green marks that add speed and points, though collecting too many green marks builds up so much speed that the marks that follow become impossible to hit.
- 5
The run ends at the finish line, followed by a victory animation in which the car spins into a donut.
- 6
A final screen declares the player's championship result for the run and shows a leaderboard with stronger scores posted above it.
- 7
Alongside the game, the site offers branded desktop wallpapers and screensavers to download.
