According to a drive control method and apparatus, an offset printing section and an intaglio printing section are connected together by a gear train. Separately from an offset printing section prime motor for driving an entire sheet-fed printing press, an intaglio printing section auxiliary motor is provided in the intaglio printing section where load is heaviest and load variations are great. By so doing, the entire sheet-fed printing press is driven by the offset printing section prime motor and the intaglio printing section auxiliary motor. Moreover, the electric current value (driving torque value) of the intaglio printing section auxiliary motor is controlled in accordance with an electric current value (torque value) for driving the offset printing section prime motor, the torque distribution rate of the intaglio printing section auxiliary motor, and the rated electric current value of the intaglio printing section auxiliary motor.