Watch new BMW M2 Drift Competition in action

BMW puts its 1,100hp 'Ultimate Drift Machine' to the test in its giant Munich factory...

By PH Staff / Thursday, 23 October 2025 / Loading comments

Red Bull Driftbrothers enjoy a long-established relationship with BMW; anyone who follows the Drift Masters European Championship will be familiar with the 1,040hp M4 Competition developed specifically for its purposes; anyone familiar with YouTube videos might recall seeing the latest M5 skidded around BMW Welt for the internet’s amusement earlier this year. It was Elias Hountondji behind the wheel then, too.

October finds him attending BMW’s giant facility in Munich for two reasons: one, to talk about the new BMW M2 Drift Competition that is in its final stages of development ahead of replacing the old M4. And two, to spend a couple of minutes (well, more in real life) skidding about the factory floor. The latter having been emptied of line workers, and, you imagine, tidied up a bit.

The modified M2 rather conforms to expectations, too. BMW hasn’t yet divulged all the work that has gone into transforming the stock car into the ‘Ultimate Drift Machine’ (obvs) though it does reveal that the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six has been induced to output 1,100hp and 922lb ft of torque - which is quite the upgrade, especially when powering a single axle, in a race machine stripped of all niceties.

Needless to say, the single-seater is a beast of a thing - though, given the slow speeds involved, Hountondji makes it seem as leisurely as a stroll in the park. Not that it felt that way in the cabin: “I was all focus all the time because I knew what was at stake. If I ran the car into any machine, we’d have millions in damage!” Well, quite. If that doesn’t put you off having a go for yourself, there is apparently a small fleet of ‘specially converted vehicles’ heading to the BMW M Driving Academy next year, in partnership with Red Bull Driftbrothers. Hopefully with nothing more expensive than a cone to hit…