Page 45 - Intra Muros October 2021

MOTORING

BMW M5 COMPETITION SPECIAL TEST

By Alan Rosenmeyer

The latest generation BMW M5 is no ordinary car, so we decided that this should be no ordinary test.

e welcomed SA’s fastest woman, As for the track time, most of this was
Clare Vale, into the MotorMatters left in the professional hands of Clare.
Wteam and took the BMW M5 to She was mightily impressed by the power
Redstar Raceway to give it a proper workout delivery, especially when TRACK MODE was
in an environment that we believe would best engaged. This mode switches out many of
suit it. the electronic ‘nannies’ and provides the
skilled driver with a rewarding experience
460kW/750Nm driving through all 4 wheels and the ability to really push the car around
with some trick electronics governing the the track. Clare made special mention
handling and power distribution will always of the brakes as well, they are certainly
be wasted on pure road driving. This ‘Beast’ capable of coping with track conditions.
belongs on a race track and it certainly
delivered in all respects. My turn around Redstar was more
restrained – thankfully, the raw power
Although it is a large sedan with all the of the car is matched by its built-in road
comforts you would expect, it always feels holding ability. I have driven on the track
like it’s straining at the leash on the road - like a few times before, in this case, although
it’s begging to be let loose and to have some we were not timing the laps, I know that
hooligan time, yet in a totally controllable the M5 was the fastest car that I have
manner. experienced there.

The time spent on the road was interesting Overall, the M5 Competition is a car that
and required restraint on my part, made will always be for the privileged few and
easier by the fact that I knew our track session the base price before extras of R2.3 million
was still coming. ensures that fact.

INTRAMUROS OCTOBER 2021 | 43