When BMW launched their 1 Series M coupe, everyone wondered how the car would fare against the larger and heavier, but more powerful, M3. In testing, a German car magazine ran the Nürburgring Nordschleife from bridge to gantry in 8:15, while the record for a ‘Ring lap in an M3 CSL stands at 7:50. Even the plain E92 BMW M3 lapped the ‘Ring in 8:05, so it seemed clear that all M3 variants were quicker than the 1 Series M cars.
The video above may prove otherwise. The driver of the 1 Series M, with the in-car camera, is Andre de Vries. He’s chasing a BMW M3 CSL, set up as a Nürburgring track day car and fitted with a roll cage, big brakes, lightweight exhaust, racing seats and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. The 1 Series M, on the other hand, is bone stock, which makes the performance of the car that much more remarkable.
It’s amazing to see how closely matched the two cars are, and de Vries managed to clock the exact same 8:15 time recorded by Sportauto tester, Horst von Saurma. Given a cleaner run around the ‘Ring, with less traffic and no accident to necessitate lifting off the throttle, deVries is confident that he can lap from bridge to gantry in under 8 minutes, which puts the 1 Series M in the same league as a 2005 Dodge Viper SRT-10, a 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 V-Spec, and the 2004 Porsche 911 Carrera S. That’s some impressive company to keep.
A lap around Nurburgring’s 73 turns is challenging even in what is deemed normal driving conditions, but take those 73 turns on a rainy day, in an open-wheeled vehicle while taking corners sideways, and that challenge is multiplied by about 100. Thankfully, Andreas Gülden, chief instructor at the Nurburgring Racing Academy, has the experience and skills to teach us all a little something on how this particular challenge is dealt with.
In this video, watch Gülden for a little over 12 minutes as he makes his way around the Nurburgring in a lap that would make even the Stig green with envy. And remember, please don’t try this at home. As previously mentioned, Gülden is a professional and this is a professional situation that needn’t be copied by amateurs. Heed the warning and don’t be a jackass.
In this episode, Adam Corolla (comedian and car enthusiast), Dan Neil (automotive columnist for The Wall Street Journal), John Salley (4-time NBA Champion and actor), and Matt Farah (SmokingTire.com) take part in a number of segments that made us laugh at loud, literally. Mixed in with the good times and "Lambo-quality comedy," the guys take part in a test comparing the automated driving versus actual driving in a 2007 BMW 328i sedan, a comparison of the Audi R8 and the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, and an interview with racing legend, Pete Brock.
The fun doesn’t stop there as the boys go through their 0-60 and Adam’s America segments, as well as a trip to North Carolina for some dirt track racing.
Hit the jump for details on The Car Show: Season 1 Episode Three.
In their latest episode, Fifth Gear took to the road with two rather impressive sports cars: the special edition BMW M3 GTS and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Vicki Butler-Henderson was behind the wheel of the M3 GTS and literally fell in love with the vehicle’s performance, as well as the fact that it had air conditioning and a stereo, two things the Porsche doesn’t have. Tiff Needell, on the other hand, favor his Porsche GT3 RS which is much cheaper than the BMW. Both drivers made their arguments on the track, so you’ll have to watch the video to see which sports car reigned supreme.
But first, the stats. The BMW M3 GTS is powered by a 4.4 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 450 HP and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 189 mph. The GT3 RS is powered by a 3.8 liter six-cylinder that delivers a total of 465 HP and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 193 mph.
Just because we think that it would be cool to be part of a professional racing team, it doesn’t mean that we’re all cut out for the job. Lost in the attention of the glory given to the professional drivers of the Corvette racing team, a group of dedicated and tireless people work behind-the-scenes to make everything possible.
In the latest episode of Corvette Racing’s "Track to Street" series, they talk about the importance of having these guys on board and doing their jobs to the fullest of their capabilities. Leading up to a race, the crew has a lot to worry about, including the car’s engine, tires, wheels, and even strategies being employed during the race. It’s a lot of work that needs plenty of attention and these guys have proven over the years that they’re up to task.
And when the race finishes and everybody else heads out for some nice rest and recreation, the crew sticks around to get everything back in order. From packing their gear to running some diagnostic tests on the car, everything is done meticulously to ensure that everything is accounted for.
If there’s anything that defines ’team effort,’ the pit crew of Corvette Racing fits that mold to a tee.
