BMW M235i Race Car

[Col 666]

i was invited by BMW to one of they're Driving Experiences Days last week at a absolutely scorching Knockhill.
Throughly enjoyed the whole day, driving the M4 and M5 flat out on the track and also the M6 and i3 on the public road, off road driving, handling course and various other things to keep you entertained.
The highlight was passenger laps in one of these mad little M235i race cars, not just any old driver either but 3 times World Touring Car ace Andy Priaulx.

I held onto my GoPro for dear life and captured this! - https://youtu.be/0JW_I83pF7c

[W8PMC]

You'd think BMW would have blistered the sills to accommodate the flared front & rear. I bet that car was a hoot though.

So what car really blew you (metaphorically of course)?

[Col 666]

W8PMC said:

You'd think BMW would have blistered the sills to accommodate the flared front & rear. I bet that car was a hoot though.

So what car really blew you (metaphorically of course)?

Yeah it did look a bit half arsed around the sills! It wasn't actually that fast in a straight line but the handling and brakes were on a different planet, lightweight and slicks so no surprise really.

Taking an M235 around first of all was fun and felt pretty quick around the tight and twisty circuit, then into the M4 and it was a major step up I was really impressed. Next up was the M5 and it was a completely different sort of speed, a little bit of lag then boom it just piled on the speed very very impressed in such a big car.
But the fastest was definitely the M6, maybe that was because we were on the main road but it felt seriously fast. Relentless pull in every gear and felt solid and surefooted, my friend had a F430 and this didn't feel too much off the pace of that, I can think of better cars for 120k though!

[M3Driver]

I've driven an F10 M5 Competition Pack on the road, and an F430 convertible (not sure if they all are...?) on track. The M5 felt waaaaaaaaay faster than the F430, so I'd imagine an M6 would be faster than the Fezza too...

[benny.c]

I did the same thing at Oulton yesterday. I loved the M6, it sounded lovely and went like stink. The M135 and 235 were great fun to chuck about but they wouldn't interest me as a track car. The M5 was too wafty and the M4 was a bit of a disappointment really. It was quick and very easy to drive fast but ultimately it was like playing on the Playstation (sorry for using that old cliché). I felt very disconnected from the car and ultimately it didn't feel very involving or rewarding to drive. Very competent though, no doubt.

I accept that none of them are track cars though so blatting around Oulton isn't the best way to make a judgement on the cars as a whole.

The 235 race car was something else. The speed it could carry through the corners was immense and the stopping was just as impressive. I was driven by Tom Blomqvist; BMW DTM works driver and son of Stig.

Edited by benny.c on Thursday 18th June 17:26

[Col 666]

i know what you mean about the M4 being too easy to drive thats why I picked the only manual one they had, made it a bit more interesting.

[NORTS]

How do you end up being picked by BMW for these type of events? I asked on the Vegas thread and never got an answer, will ask my stealer next Friday when I'm in to see if they know.

[Col 666]

NORTS said:

How do you end up being picked by BMW for these type of events? I asked on the Vegas thread and never got an answer, will ask my stealer next Friday when I'm in to see if they know.

Not all dealerships take part in these days, I think there were 3 when I did mine and each were allowed 20 guests.
Normally valued long term customers I think, I managed it through a different avenue.

[NORTS]

Col 666 said:

NORTS said:

How do you end up being picked by BMW for these type of events? I asked on the Vegas thread and never got an answer, will ask my stealer next Friday when I'm in to see if they know.

Not all dealerships take part in these days, I think there were 3 when I did mine and each were allowed 20 guests.
Normally valued long term customers I think, I managed it through a different avenue.

Ok, thanks for the response. Interesting as like you say the people I've seen posted before on here that have been on these days don't have M cars or a history in buying lots of new BMWs.