BMW teased a new world record set by the M2 Competition a few weeks ago. It was unclear exactly what that record was, but the German automaker has now released a short video detailing exactly what it is. To say that it’s a strange record would be doing the whole attempt a disservice. And yet, for some reason, we got excited that the M2 Competition broke a record we didn’t even know existed. Why? Because it used a laser in doing it. That’s right, folks — a laser.

We all know that the BMW M2 Competition is capable of incredible performance achievements. This is, after all, a car that packs 405 horsepower and managed to set a more traditional record earlier this year when it was able to drift for 232.5 uninterrupted miles. It needed the help of a BMW M5 to refuel it five times to complete the endurance drift, but it was and remains an impressive achievement.

This new world record, on the other hand, doesn’t qualify as an accomplishment most automakers seek out. I can’t remember the last time a car was fitted with a laser on its radiator grille and was tasked to pop as many balloons as it can in 60 seconds. The reason why it’s hard to remember is because it has never been done before. The previous record was held by a human, who somehow managed to pop 62 balloons in just 60 seconds.

With the number set, the M2 Competition had to pop 63 or more balloons in 60 seconds to beat it. To make it more interesting, BMW created somewhat of a unique course utilizing the M logo inside an old warehouse in the U.K. And so, the M3 Competition set out to beat the record, doing so while drifting all over the improvised course.

In the end, the M2 Competition not only beat the existing record, but it also crushed it to the tune of 79 popped balloons in 60 seconds. I don’t know how high this record ranks in the list of most impressive records I’ve seen a car accomplish, but it certainly is up there in the annals of the weirdest records ever accomplished by a car and its automaker.

If you’re impressed with what the M2 Competition achieved, you can try to do it yourselves. All you need is an actual M2 Competition, which you can avail at just under $60,000, a laser fitted inside the radiator grille, lots of balloons, and a lot of space to make your attempt. That or you can take this “new record” for what it really is: a marketing ploy done right.

Further reading

Read our full review of the BMW M2 Competion

Read our expert review of the standard BMW M2

Read more BMW news.