He's sliding, but he's not compromising his line or cornering speed. If you're driving the car at the limit, you're always going to get a little bit of slip angle. The way you can tell that his speed isn't compromised is that his nose is always pointed in the right direction. His lap definitely destroyed the Lightning lap. You simply can't compare journalists to factory pro drivers. The pros are on a completely different level.
Yeap, I was at Silverstone for the Ferrari Passione weekend and we went out on track. The drivers with us were saying that it's easy to take someone from 50 - 75%, he said the very good drivers can get into the 80% but he said it's a totally different ball game finding that last 10%, he said not even many racing drivers are at that level.
Dear Car and Driver, ditch the novice editors and just have GT racer legend Bill Auberlin do all the lightning laps in every car a la MT with Randy Pobst. Quit with the BS already.
GabrielNicaFTW is right that they made the gear box so damn good that you can leave it in auto, but not everyone using it in manual mode is a poser. it can be more fun/emotional to drive a car like that in manual even if it maybe is a tiny bit slower then
GabrielNicaFTW well drivers that arent extremely professional wont get the 100% fastest lap time out of there car anyways. and maybe it´s just more fun for them to use manual :) they wont care for that half a second
GabrielNicaFTW shifting yourself on the track is not hard to do- especially without a clutch pedal to worry about. It's really not hard to know what gear you're supposed to be in each corner if you know the track. The reason why some people don't use the paddles on track is because if the system is good enough to do it on its own, it's just one less thing to worry about. That's it. Some people like to shift by themselves. It's just preference.
Love this event, nice work guys! GTS is a disappointment though. The over achiever that doesn't achieve. Water injected state of the art turbo 6 that's makes less power than the corvette z06 did naturally aspirated in 2006. No interior, full cage, super suspension, full aero, cup 2 tires, and runs a slower lap than a mustang and way slower than the vette. Whole lotta noise about nothing. I said it when they came out, I can't wait to run into one of these at the racetrack so I can destroy it. I feel bad for the owners on their first track day...
The American M4 GTS doesn't have the carbon buckets which are way lighter and the reviewers didn't take the time to set it up. Sport auto did and the car was 0.4s slower than a GT3, and that's without the optional CFRP wheels, so...
That's completely BS. People who are serious about lap times will get a dual clutch every time for those few tenths it may shave off. People who aren't as serious will get a manual bc they care more about having fun. That's all it comes down to.
Most people who buy this car will not take it to the track and drive it into the ground. The fun is the point. The automatic is the grocery getter and the one to placate most wives so you can buy one.
Thomas Niner I actually disagree. Most people will get this car to take it to the track. The M3 is one of the most tracked cars out there. Look at the E92 M3 GTS- you see a lot of people taking that to the track. It'll be the same w this car. Just bc it's expensive doesn't mean people won't take it to the track- you still see plenty of 991 GT3s that track their car regularly.
I agree with you as a purist, that this car would be better in a stick but just like Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo, McLaren...they are catering to the guys who are all about numbers. Nurburgring lap times, in particular. Kinda sad, but its the truth. I do disagree with you because I think most who buy the GTS will track it. The Joe Schmoe who wants to be that a-hole Bimmer driver on the streets will buy the plain jane M3/M4 since its plenty fast enough and costs much less.
crossphaded you still see plenty of normal M3s on the track- at least E46s and E92s. I always see a few when I go. At the same time though, there at still a bunch of ahole BMW drivers on the road- doesn't have to be an M car. It really depends on the driver.
Bill was seriously ripping it. They should have posted his time! haha Post the full lap, please! :)
Dude can drive. That's for damn sure. I'd love to take a ride-along with him.
Wow the BMW M4 GTS seems to be a serious machine!!
I'd be very interested in hearing Bill's take on the steering feedback he gets from the GTS. Regardless, a neat ride, thanks!
This lap was way faster than the lighting lap
Drifty laps look (and are) fun, but never as quick as a tight, clean lap.
He's sliding, but he's not compromising his line or cornering speed. If you're driving the car at the limit, you're always going to get a little bit of slip angle. The way you can tell that his speed isn't compromised is that his nose is always pointed in the right direction.
His lap definitely destroyed the Lightning lap. You simply can't compare journalists to factory pro drivers. The pros are on a completely different level.
Yeap, I was at Silverstone for the Ferrari Passione weekend and we went out on track. The drivers with us were saying that it's easy to take someone from 50 - 75%, he said the very good drivers can get into the 80% but he said it's a totally different ball game finding that last 10%, he said not even many racing drivers are at that level.
Awesome macine. Great driving
I'm curious to know how that lap compared to the lightning lap?
seems to be faster
Very nice!! Do you have a ride along of the V8 1LE?
Dear Car and Driver, ditch the novice editors and just have GT racer legend Bill Auberlin do all the lightning laps in every car a la MT with Randy Pobst. Quit with the BS already.
Amazing!
This is a good car
I noticed Bill didn't use the paddle shifters. Any reason why? Is the auto mode that good?
GabrielNicaFTW is right that they made the gear box so damn good that you can leave it in auto, but not everyone using it in manual mode is a poser. it can be more fun/emotional to drive a car like that in manual even if it maybe is a tiny bit slower then
GabrielNicaFTW well drivers that arent extremely professional wont get the 100% fastest lap time out of there car anyways. and maybe it´s just more fun for them to use manual :) they wont care for that half a second
I'm just looking for excuse. I never learned to drive a manual.😣 I feel it's something I've missed out on.
There's always time to learn.
GabrielNicaFTW shifting yourself on the track is not hard to do- especially without a clutch pedal to worry about. It's really not hard to know what gear you're supposed to be in each corner if you know the track.
The reason why some people don't use the paddles on track is because if the system is good enough to do it on its own, it's just one less thing to worry about. That's it. Some people like to shift by themselves. It's just preference.
Nice car... but.. the price....
One for sale here with about 3000miles on it for 241 000$ :O
the lightning lap?
Water injection baby
Love this event, nice work guys! GTS is a disappointment though. The over achiever that doesn't achieve. Water injected state of the art turbo 6 that's makes less power than the corvette z06 did naturally aspirated in 2006. No interior, full cage, super suspension, full aero, cup 2 tires, and runs a slower lap than a mustang and way slower than the vette. Whole lotta noise about nothing. I said it when they came out, I can't wait to run into one of these at the racetrack so I can destroy it. I feel bad for the owners on their first track day...
well, it´s still a m4:) and not a vette or porsche
And what are you driving?
Just a little chevy...
The Corvette has an engine that's over twice as big are you kidding me ? A 7l V8 vs a 3.0l inline 6 dude wtf
and gt350r is faster
The American M4 GTS doesn't have the carbon buckets which are way lighter and the reviewers didn't take the time to set it up. Sport auto did and the car was 0.4s slower than a GT3, and that's without the optional CFRP wheels, so...
If you want to be a serious driver get a stick.
That's completely BS. People who are serious about lap times will get a dual clutch every time for those few tenths it may shave off. People who aren't as serious will get a manual bc they care more about having fun. That's all it comes down to.
Most people who buy this car will not take it to the track and drive it into the ground. The fun is the point. The automatic is the grocery getter and the one to placate most wives so you can buy one.
Thomas Niner I actually disagree. Most people will get this car to take it to the track. The M3 is one of the most tracked cars out there. Look at the E92 M3 GTS- you see a lot of people taking that to the track. It'll be the same w this car.
Just bc it's expensive doesn't mean people won't take it to the track- you still see plenty of 991 GT3s that track their car regularly.
I agree with you as a purist, that this car would be better in a stick but just like Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo, McLaren...they are catering to the guys who are all about numbers. Nurburgring lap times, in particular. Kinda sad, but its the truth. I do disagree with you because I think most who buy the GTS will track it. The Joe Schmoe who wants to be that a-hole Bimmer driver on the streets will buy the plain jane M3/M4 since its plenty fast enough and costs much less.
crossphaded you still see plenty of normal M3s on the track- at least E46s and E92s. I always see a few when I go. At the same time though, there at still a bunch of ahole BMW drivers on the road- doesn't have to be an M car. It really depends on the driver.