Automotive

BMW M5 smashes world record with 232.5-mile drift

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BMW smashed two world records for the Greatest Distance Vehicle Drift and the record for the Greatest Twin Vehicle Drift
BMW
BMW smashed two world records for the Greatest Distance Vehicle Drift and the record for the Greatest Twin Vehicle Drift
BMW
BMW's driving instructor, Johan Schwartz on his smoky final lap of the 232.5-mile record
BMW
The refueling car had a custom fitted dash panel that featured toggle switches for the transfer pump and the gauge for the fuel cell
BMW
Detroit Speed's Matt Butts demonstrating the refueling procedure during the record-breaking run
BMW
The filler for the custom dry break fuel system utilizes quick-release couplings so that the M5 can be refueled while drifting
BMW
A custom fuel-cell had to be fitted to the refueling car so it could have a standalone fuel supply instead of siphoning fuel from the stock tank
BMW
(From L-R) BMW Performance Center Driving Instructor Johan Schwartz, Detroit Speed’s Matt Butts and BMW Performance Center Chief Driving Instructor Matt Mullins (driver of refueling car) proudly posing with their Guinness World Record certificates
BMW
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A BMW M5 has obliterated the world record for the greatest distance vehicle drift with a ridiculous eight hour, 232.5-mile (374.2 km) sideways jaunt at the Performance Center skid pad in South Carolina. Just to add a little more spice, the car was refueled jet fighter-style while in motion and the record for the longest twin vehicle drift was set on the same day.

BMW set a Guinness World Record with a 51.3-mile (82.6 km) drift back in 2013 but was knocked off its perch by a Toyota GT86 that covered 89.6 miles (144.2 km) in 2014.

The 232.5-mile record was set last month by BMW driving instructor Johan Schwartz behind the wheel of a new F90-series M5.

Larger fuel tanks have been used in previous record attempts, but BMW went a step further this time and fitted the car with a custom dry break fuel system that saw the fuel filler moved to the quarter glass on the rear passenger window. This allowed the adventurous Matt Butts from project collaborator Detroit Speed to suspend himself out the rear passenger window of another M5 in order to connect and hold the fuel line to the filler. The fighter jet refueling arrangement allowed the record car to drift continuously over the eight hours.

(From L-R) BMW Performance Center Driving Instructor Johan Schwartz, Detroit Speed’s Matt Butts and BMW Performance Center Chief Driving Instructor Matt Mullins (driver of refueling car) proudly posing with their Guinness World Record certificates
BMW

To top the day off, BMW took both M5's and in 1 hour claimed a 49.25-mile (79.3 km) Guinness World Record for the longest twin vehicle drift, beating the 17.8-mile (28.7 km) record previously held by Nissan.

Schwartz and BMW Performance Center Chief Driving Instructor Matt Mullins, who drove the second M5, are demonstrating their drifting prowess in the 2018 BMW M5 at CES this week.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the new drift record record below.

Source: BMW

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7 comments
f8lee
In this day of eco-awareness, dreamy-eyed hopes of autonomous driving, etc. this is at once both cool and stupid.
Bruce H. Anderson
It will take another 8 hours to wipe those silly grins of their faces. I know it would for me anyway. Dinosaurs be damned, WHAT A HOOT!
Jacksdad
Drifting and engine noise... is that what car marketing has come to?
sk8dad
Mad props to the in-drift refuel guy who risked being the meat in a human sandwich.
ljaques
<yawn>
What? You mean a set of tires will take that many miles before delaminating or wearing completely out? Amazing.
<yawn>
Bricorn
OK, one question. Why the F would anyone want to do this, let alone boast about it?
Mark Salamon
Yet another pointless, wasteful, and adolescent stunt performed with a car, proving once again that just because you CAN do something doesn't mean its wise...