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BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

  • 30 Mar 2021 11:16 AM | Anonymous

    E30 Racing Inc.
    Photographs by Ribbit Photography

    Thanks to everyone who attended Round 2 at Winton, we had a great grid of cars, so thanks to everyone who signed up - and special thanks to all who chipped in to keep the numbers up:

    • Jeremy Payne had a mechanical issue after practice - thanks to all who helped out with parts and labour to undertake substantial repairs to get him on the grid for Race 1. A brilliant team effort.
    • Rod Martin sadly wasn't able to make it up for the event - thanks to everyone who made the arrangements for Anton Bergman to step in and steer the car beautifully, enjoying some great battles throughout the weekend.
    • An unfortunate spin for Paul Shiff left the #54 Red Rocket with substantial front right damage - after a late night of driving and labour, the car was on the grid again for Race 2 the following morning.

    This team spirit and camaraderie in the paddock is what grass roots motorsport, and E30 Racing in particular, is all about.

    In addition to the great racing and cooperation in the paddock, we also enjoyed a great team BBQ on Saturday night; thanks to the Bell Motorsport team for hosting, and new member Dean Coutts for your contribution.

    Many thanks to our Round Sponsor, BMW Drivers Club Melbourne, whose contribution ensured we could stream our events live on Blend Line TV - visit their website to catch the action if you missed it!

    It was great to welcome Coutts to the grid in the red #11, as well as welcoming back Payne, Chris Bell, Simon Shiff, and especially Jess Bell following her accident at Sandown - thanks to Sean Bell for the use of the 2014-16 championship-winning car.

    Qualifying

    With the returning 2019 champ Payne stuck in the pits with the #43 Avis car undergoing repairs, it was the 2018 BMW Driver's Cup champion Chris Bell in the #29 Bell Motorsport / BMWDCM machine who took pole, on his first E30 Racing event since sealing that crown.

    The orange #22 of Jory was speedy from day one, and joined Chris Bell on the front row, with Simon Shiff, in the stunning #55 Red Rocket Racing car, starting the weekend brilliantly with a scorching lap for P3, making up for missing Round 1 at Sandown.

    Race 1

    After a brief downpour that had everyone scrambling to check tyre pressures, we got underway on wet but drying track, with a dry racing line developing throughout the race, making overtaking difficult... but not for Jeremy Payne, starting from the rear after being unable to qualify.

    Alex Jory set the pace, and Brian Bourke got past Chris Bell into P2. While Payne made his way through the field, Bourke began closing the gap on Jory. Meanwhile, Bergman got to grips beautifully with Rod Martin's #40 car as well as the changing conditions.

    Bourke caught up with Jory, but an unfortunate tangle left the door open for Chris Bell to sweep through to take the win, with Payne coming home in P2 - a great effort - while Bourke recovered to take P3.

    While hassling the debutant Coutts, a spin and collision for Paul Shiff at turn 12 left him stranded in the infield, while the #7 of Plant limped away to DNF after making contact with the spinning Shiff.


    Race 2

    Having carved through the field in Race 1, Payne was on a roll, and took a commanding win, his first of the season. Chris Bell had another strong finish, coming home P2, ahead of Bergman, who battled brilliantly with veterans Bourke and Bowles, who finished in that order. Jory lost positions at the start (future note to self - you can't start a race in third gear), and battled through the midfield to take P6.

    Mike Bailey had an engine issue just before the race, so couldn't make the start, and thus missed out on some great dicing further down the order. Simon Leach finished P7, ahead of Harry Walker, Simon Shiff, Jess Bell, Plant, Paul Shiff, Coutts, and Darryl O'Neill.


    Race 3

    Payne led from the front ahead of Chris Bell, but Jory was on a mission to recover some round points, so Chris Bell relinquished P2 so the orange #22 could give chase.

    Outside the podium places, Bowles stayed ahead of a brilliant exchange between Bourke and Bergman, with the #27 Transrock car of Bourke finishing on top after several laps of entertaining racing.

    Further back, the Simons found themselves battling for position, and got too close at turn 12, with light contact spinning Leach in front of the chasing pack. Thankfully, no major damage resulted, and the cars of Plant, Walker, Jess Bell and Bailey safely made their way past to record solid midfield finishes.

    A great end to the weekend, with all cars finishing Race 3, lots of smiles in the garage, and everyone keen to hit the track again at Phillip Island in May.

    Full Results and Championship Standings are now published on our website.

    Stay tuned for entry details for Round 3 of the 2021 Garagistic BMW Driver's Cup, let's get another solid grid together!


    E30 Racing Inc.

  • 25 Mar 2021 12:43 PM | Anonymous

    Technology upgrade for the midsize scooters.

    With the C 400 X in 2017 and the C 400 GT in 2018, BMW Motorrad presented two premium vehicles for the midsize scooter segment for the first time. Since then, the C 400 X has been impressing Urban Mobility segment customers with its dynamic ride characteristics, while the C 400 GT, as a Gran Turismo variant suitable for touring, stands out thanks to its enhanced range of comfort features. To make sure that this remains the case in the future too, BMW Motorrad has now upgraded the two midsize scooters and, in addition to some significant technical optimisations, has also given them new colours and styles.

    Powerful single-cylinder engine according to EU-5 homologation with E-gas, new engine management and optimised centrifugal clutch.

    As before, the proven efficiency-optimised single-cylinder engine with an output of 25 kW (34 hp) at 7 500 rpm and a torque of 35 Nm at 5 750 rpm serves as the drive unit. Power transmission is via a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox and a torsionally stiff drivetrain swing arm with innovative swing arm bearing for minimum vibration and therefore maximum comfort. Thanks to current EU 5 homologation, the new C 400 X and C 400 GT remain the ideal partners for dynamic, carefree scooter fun.

    For this reason the engine has been equipped with a so-called "electronic throttle grip" (E-gas) and an electrically operated throttle valve as well as a new engine management system. Further optimisations are a modified matrix and coating of the catalytic converter, a wideband oxygen sensor, modifications to the cylinder head, a new sensor on the generator cover, an adapted wiring harness and modified idle speed control. The idle speed regulator in the airbox has been omitted and the idle speed control is now carried out via a throttle valve bypass and a turbulence system.

    In addition to complying with EU-5 homologation, the revised drive impresses riders above all with an even smoother and more sensitive throttle response as well as increased idling stability. In addition to E-gas and new engine management, the optimised springs for the centrifugal clutch also contribute to increasing engine running stability. The tolerance of the spring force was limited, the spring force was slightly increased and the engine speed was slightly raised as the clutch re-engages. Due to the reduced tolerances, the spread of the speed when disengaging the clutch is smaller and belated opening of the clutch - as occasionally known from the predecessor - no longer occurs.

    Automatic Stability Control (ASC) with automatic radius calibration and increased regulation quality. Homologation of the full top speed now also for China.

    In the course of the technical revision, the new C 400 X and C 400 GT also received an optimised ASC. Instead of the previous manual recalibration - for example when changing tyres - the new system now has an automatic radius calibration. In addition, the new ASC is designed for significantly lower friction values than before. When riding, this is noticeable in a more sensitive response and significantly increased regulation comfort - especially on wet and slippery surfaces. Deactivating ASC is now no longer necessary.

    Until now, the two vehicles were homologated for the Chinese market for a speed of 129 km/h. The legal requirements in China have changed and so it has now become possible to homologate the full top speed of 139 km/h there as in the other markets.

    Brake system with new front brake calipers and adjusted lever travel of front and rear brakes. Storage compartment with optimised lighting and USB charging socket.

    The brake system of the new C 400 X and C 400 GT has also been revised. Thanks to new brake calipers, the double-disc brake system at the front now offers a more stable and clearly defined pressure point as well as improved roll-back behaviour of the brake pistons. This is accompanied by aligned lever travels for the rear brake on the left and the front brake on the right for a symmetrical braking feel.

    The optimised lighting of the storage compartment (volume 31 l, 45 l with Flexcase) under the seat bench improves comfort significantly. The lighting now no longer comes from the side, but from above for even better illumination. In addition to the 12-volt onboard socket, the front right storage compartment is now equipped with a USB charging socket.

    Two new attractive colours each as well as the style variants "Sport" (C 400 X) and "Triple Black" (C 400 GT).

    As before the new BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT also feature the unmistakable design language of BMW Motorrad. Modern and future-oriented looks reflect the BMW Motorrad design philosophy perfectly. The new midsize scooters from BMW Motorrad are each offered in three different colour variants.

    C 400 X.

    • Base paint finish Blackstorm metallic.
    • Optional Granite Grey metallic paint finish (+ 50.00 €).
    • Style Sport (Blackstorm metallic/Racingblue metallic matt, + € 200.00).
    C 400 GT.
    • Base paint finish Alpine White.
    • Optional Kallisto Grey metallic paint finish (+ 50.00 €).
    • Style Triple Black (Blackstorm metallic with matt tapes, + 200.00 €).

    All new features of the BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT at a glance:
    • Powerful single-cylinder drive according to EU-5 homologation with E-gas, new engine management and optimised centrifugal clutch.
    • Optimised idling behaviour.
    • Automatic Stability Control (ASC) with automatic radius calibration and increased regulation quality.
    • Brake system with new front brake calipers, clearly defined pressure point and adjusted lever travel of front and rear brakes.
    • Seat storage compartment with optimised lighting and USB charging socket in the front right storage compartment.
    • Two new attractive colours each as well as the style variants "Sport" (C 400 X) and "Triple Black" (C 400 GT).

    BMW PRESS

  • 24 Mar 2021 12:39 PM | Anonymous

    2021 is the final year in the development phase of the BMW M4 GT3, due to do battle for wins and titles in GT races around the world for BMW M Motorsport teams as of 2022. The new flagship in the BMW M Motorsport portfolio of cars has been taking part in testing weeks at the Spanish racetracks of Monteblanco and Almeria since the start of the year and in doing so has rung in the crucial stage ahead of the initial race appearances.

    2021 is the final year in the development phase of the BMW M4 GT3, due to do battle for wins and titles in GT races around the world for BMW M Motorsport teams as of 2022. The new flagship in the BMW M Motorsport portfolio of cars has been taking part in testing weeks at the Spanish racetracks of Monteblanco and Almeria since the start of the year and in doing so has rung in the crucial stage ahead of the initial race appearances. Covering more than 12,000 kilometres already – which equates to more than 60 hours on the track – numerous BMW drivers have worked extremely hard on drivability and reliability, the objective being to significantly reduce the lifecycle costs and maintenance effort compared with the predecessor model. The close collaboration between BMW M Motorsport and the series developers at BMW M GmbH, as well as making use of the BMW Group’s testing facilities, both make an important contribution to the progress of the BMW M4 GT3.

    The test drives at Almeria (ESP) last week represented another milestone in the development of the BMW M4 GT3, with successful endurance runs and race simulations. Martin Tomczyk, Jens Klingmann (both GER) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) took turns at the wheel, and these are just three of the many experienced BMW drivers who have already contributed to the optimisation of the car. Others include Augusto Farfus (BRA), Marco Wittmann (GER), Bruno Spengler (CAN), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN). In addition to endurance runs, the focus at Almeria was mainly on testing tyres of various brands.

    In a direct comparison with its predecessor, the BMW M6 GT3, the BMW M4 GT3 is already showing considerable improvements in crucial areas at this stage of development, namely the reduction of lifecycle costs and maintenance effort, as well as drivability for professional and amateur racing drivers, both in dry conditions and in the rain. Easy handling of the BMW M4 GT3 is the top priority – for both drivers and the team at the track. The BMW M Motorsport engineers have made a breakthrough. For the first time, it is possible to change most electronic settings in the car, without having to connect it to a laptop. Last-minute changes to control systems or sensors can be made via the multifunction steering wheel, making it much quicker and easier to make changes.

    “There was a really good atmosphere among us drivers during the last test drives because we were able to complete a lot of laps and we all agree that the BMW M4 GT3 is a lot of fun,” said Klingmann at the end of the week of testing at Almeria. “It is very easy and consistent to drive, which has a positive effect on tyre wear and we made progress with the development of lots of systems. Naturally, there are still lots of things to sort out, but the question marks are consistently being replaced with exclamation marks.”

    “Since I had only driven the car in the wet once before, the Almeria test was like a first for me,” said Tomczyk. “We were really well prepared, and everything went fantastically with very few exceptions. I also really enjoy driving the car. I’m feeling very positive.”

    Yelloly said: “As someone who has competed in a lot of races in the BMW M6 GT3 in recent years, I noticed right away just how big a leap forward the BMW M4 GT3 will be. We tested both performance and consistency, and practiced pit stops and performed system checks. The BMW M4 GT3 drove well on all tyre brands that we tried out so I’m very confident looking ahead to future race appearances. I can’t wait to get started.”

    In addition to the testing at the racetrack, which BMW Team RMG will continue intensively during the course of the year and will supplement with initial test races, the close collaboration between BMW M Motorsport and colleagues in series development in Munich (GER) plays a crucial role. BMW Group uses various test benches for the whole car as well as components, for example, to measure performance, vibrations, efficiency and roll resistance. The BMW M4 GT3 has undergone tests on the engine test bench and the roller test bench and intensive work has been done in the wind tunnel and climate tunnel.

    Testing also took place in the BMW Group’s acoustics tunnel this week, to advance the noise measuring tuning and silencer development with noise emissions for the BMW M4 GT3. This cutting-edge tunnel can do much more. In series operation, some of its other uses include sound development and tuning driving noises and interior noises.

    Testing of the BMW M4 GT3 is set to continue with further sessions in April and May.

    BMW PRESS

  • 22 Mar 2021 12:53 PM | Anonymous

    The two brothers Elias and Johannes Hountondji will take two new BMW M4 Competition models to the starting line at this year’s Drift Masters European Championship.

    The BMW M GmbH is extending its support of the Motorsport team to include the spectacular sport of drifting and will be sponsoring the Red Bull Driftbrothers. This year, the two brothers Elias and Johannes Hountondji will enter the Drift Masters European Championship driving two new BMW M4 Competition models (combined fuel consumption: 10.2 – 9.9 l/100 km according to WLTP, 10.2 l/100 km according to NEDC; combined CO2 emissions: 233 – 227 g/km according to WLTP, 234 g/km according to NEDC), which they themselves, along with their team, will optimise for the special demands of drift sports. In addition to the five racing weekends during the world’s leading drift series, show appearances are also scheduled for 2021 at the MotoGP races at the Sachsenring and the Red Bull Ring, the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix, likewise at the Red Bull Ring, as well as the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. 

    “BMW M has always stood for motorsports at the highest level and in all of its diversity, whereby we are also open to disciplines such as drift sports. The Red Bull Driftbrothers belong to the absolute top group of the scene in terms of driving skills and technology. The BMW M4 Competition is an ideal new competition vehicle for both of them to achieve success during the 2021 season,” says Markus Flasch, CEO of the BMW M GmbH.

    The Red Bull Driftbrothers, Elias Hountondji (35) and Johannes Hountondji (40), are not just drivers. They also prepare their vehicles themselves and optimise them for the special demands of drift sports, the BMW M4 Competition providing them with a perfect basis. “We were very positively surprised just how much effort BMW M has put into optimising the vehicle’s stiffness. Therefore, we were able, for example, to use most of the front end without modifications,” says Elias Hountondji. Apart from the installation of a safety cage and the adaptation of aerodynamics to the special conditions of drifting, the Red Bull Driftbrothers also optimise the engine. “I have never seen an engine like the one in the BMW M4 Competition, a more or less thoroughbred racing engine in a road legal vehicle. The oil supply even functions at centrifugal forces of 1.5g and more. We consider this very important,” Johannes Hountondji explains.

    From the outset, the BMW M4 Competition’s straight six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology was designed by the BMW M GmbH for use in motor sports and will also be featured in the BMW M4 GT3. The Red Bull Driftbrothers adapt the 375 kW (510 hp) high-revving power plant used in the production vehicle to the demands of drift sports, whereby a high degree of torque is particularly crucial.  In order to access power during longer transversal movements, the brothers also optimise the engine, providing it, among other things, with an additional second cooler at the rear.

    For many years now, Elias and Johannes Hountondji have been up there with the top drift sport drivers, their successes including 2017 King of Europe Champion and Vice Champion. In 2016 and 2017, they also seized the team title there and have been active in the Drift Masters European Championship since 2018. The best 45 drivers from Europe, the USA and the Middle East participate in this invitational series, 2021 in Austria, Norway, Poland, Latvia and Georgia. At drift sport events, on road sections of just a few kilometres, the driver with the best handling skills, the most intelligent strategy and the best equipment setup is chosen as the winner. Driving time is not the decisive factor, but four criteria assessed by a jury: Speed and drift angle, the more the better in each case, the chosen line and driving style. The decisions are made at the end of the battle according to a knock-out system.

    BMW PRESS

  • 21 Mar 2021 1:06 PM | Anonymous

    BMW Team RLL has claimed a double podium at the Twelve Hours of Sebring (USA). After 333 eventful laps of racing, the #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, driven by Connor De Phillippi (USA), Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Philipp Eng (AUT), crossed the line second in the GTLM class. John Edwards (USA), Jesse Krohn (FIN) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) completed the podium with third place in the #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE.

    BMW Team RLL has claimed a double podium at the Twelve Hours of Sebring (USA). After 333 eventful laps of racing, the #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, driven by Connor De Phillippi (USA), Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Philipp Eng (AUT), crossed the line second in the GTLM class. John Edwards (USA), Jesse Krohn (FIN) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) completed the podium with third place in the #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE. The classic race in the US state of Florida was the second major endurance event of the season in North America.

    Starting drivers De Phillippi and Krohn each moved up one place after beginning the race from third and fourth positions. That was followed by twelve eventful hours of racing on the Sebring International Raceway, with numerous full course yellows. The #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE led the GTLM class for a time before falling back a little to second place in the final stages. The #24 car was also in a promising position before slipping down a lap due to a minor pit stop fire around two hours before the finish and then returning to the track in fourth place.

    The closing stage proved to be full of drama. During the battle for the lead, De Phillippi made contact with the leading GTLM car eight minutes before the end and received a drive-through penalty. Despite that he was able to hold on to second place in the class with the #25 car. Krohn moved up from fourth to third place on the final lap in the #24 car.

    In the GTD class, the Turner Motorsport #96 BMW M6 GT3 secured eighth place. Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley (both USA) and Aidan Read (AUS) shared driving duties. The trio had lost a substantial amount of time during repairs in the early stage of the race and worked their way back up as the race progressed.

    The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race took place on Friday. After two hours of racing, Auberlen and Dillon Machavern (USA) finished third in the Turner Motorsport #95 BMW M4 GT4 to secure a spot on the podium. The duo of Greg Liefooghe and Sean Quinlan (both USA) finished fifth in the #43 BMW M4 GT4 of Stephen Cameron Racing. Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta (both USA) secured seventh place in the #96 BMW M4 GT4 from Turner Motorsport.

    The third endurance race of the season for BMW Team RLL, the 6-hour race at Watkins Glen (USA), is scheduled for 27th June.

    Quotes after the Twelve Hours of Sebring:

    Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL): “The guys did a great job. It was unfortunate for the #24 and we still don’t know what exactly happened at the pit stop with the fire but thankfully nobody got hurt and we were able to get going again. The final minutes were unlucky. When you have the chance to win the Twelve Hours of Sebring you’ve got to go for it. It didn’t quite work out but you can’t blame anybody; everybody was aggressive at the end. It was a shame but we gave our best shot and today it looked pretty good for a while. We got a good gap to the Corvette and the Porsche but then the yellows came out and that made it a whole new race again towards the end. We would have liked to win this race, especially this race, but with P2 and P3 we are now looking forward to the next one at Watkins Glen.”  

    Connor De Phillippi (BMW Team RLL, #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 2nd place GTLM class): “I think we can be really proud of our performance today. We knew we had to maximise literally everything into this car and this is exactly what we did. We put ourselves in the position to fight at the end. I could taste the win, tried to battle with the leader. I saw an opportunity and went for it but it didn’t work. We still came home second and third for BMW. It’s great to be on the podium. It was nice to come back here and show that we have the speed. It’s a good result and good points for BMW and now we will try to get the win at the six-hour race.”

    Bruno Spengler (BMW Team RLL, #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 2nd place GTLM class): “What a race. We were competing for the lead pretty much the whole race. At times, it was really intense and felt like a sprint race. After the restarts, behind each other and chasing each other, it was a lot of fun. We fought until the end and Connor saw a gap and went for it. Unfortunately there was a contact and for sure it was not intentional from his side, he just tried to go for the win but we still finished in P2. It’s a great result for us, for the whole team. The team has been working awesomely hard to give us such a good car here at Sebring so we can be happy about this great result.”

    Philipp Eng (BMW Team RLL, #25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 2nd place GTLM class): “I am obviously very happy about the podium. It is such a fantastic race and such a fantastic racetrack. In the end I think Connor just relied on his instinct. The outcome is what it is but I would not have done it any differently. Unfortunately we missed out on the win but it is still a double podium for BMW.”

    Jesse Krohn (BMW Team RLL, #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 3rd place GTLM class): “It was really bad luck. Two years in a row, we fell out of the battle at the end. Unfortunately, the yellow came too late so we were stuck driving one lap behind the other guys. There is not much you can do. Unfortunately some things then happened at the front and we came out with P3 but it wasn’t really what we were looking for and what we could have done.”

    John Edwards (BMW Team RLL, #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 3rd place GTLM class): “My sister sent me a text and it said ‘you really rose from the ashes’ and I think that is really true tonight. A surprising podium on the last lap as the Corvette was having problems. So we take it and take the points. But overall it was a disappointing day as we were very competitive. Together with the other car, we were running in P1 and P2 with a couple of hours to go and it looked like we could have a shot for both cars to stay there. We then had the fire but most importantly everyone is okay.”

    Augusto Farfus (BMW Team RLL, #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE, 3rd place GTLM class): “It’s a shame that we had the fire. Looking at how the race ended I think we would have been right there and we would have been able to go for the victory, but besides that I think it’s a shame what happened to Connor. We all had a very good race, trouble free apart from the incident in the pit lane in which luckily no one got hurt. Another podium, so I think there is a reason to celebrate.”

    BMW PRESS

  • 21 Mar 2021 12:01 PM | Anonymous

    Event date: 14 March 2021

    My favourite part of Werribee Zoo was the safari tour.  We had our own carriage.  My favourite thing I saw on the safari tour was the big lumps of Rhino poo.  We also saw the male onyx who had 26 girlfriends.

    Before that I went to the Australian Trail and walked through all the dinosaurs.  I loved them because they could move.  My favourite dinosaur was one meat eating dinosaur because they have sharp and shiny teeth.

    I also liked seeing Olivia and the other children and I got a unicorn Beanie Boo in the shop. Thank you Jo for organising this day out.

    Eliza Piera (6 years) | Member #564, granddaugter of Shaaron and Lawrence Glynn
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

  • 20 Mar 2021 11:56 PM | Anonymous

    Event date: 16 March 2021

    We are always amazed at the BMW dealerships' level of hospitality toward the car club members, thank you Waverley BMW for giving us such a wonderful start to our event.

    Once the formalities were over the drivers all prepared to depart from the courtyard. Jamie is a 17yo Learner driver and having been a passenger on a drive night previously he was excited to be behind the wheel this time in our 1988 E34 525i sedan. We tried to stay near the tail end so we wouldn't be slowing anyone down. The roads were not too busy so as we wound our way through the back streets the group consisting of such a variety of cars was able to stay close together.

    As we approached the Dandenongs and started to climb the sun was setting on our right giving a spectacular glimpse of the skyline, we didn't see too much more of that as the roads became windy and forest denser. It was useful having a CB radio to stay informed of the procession of cars movements as we negotiated the ever darkening surroundings. This was a valuable experience for Jamie. He really enjoyed the challenge of night driving on unfamiliar roads and this experience will assist in him becoming a safer and confident driver as he picked up several useful skills during the event.

    Many thanks to all the BMW Drivers Club commitee for your tireless efforts putting so many exciting events catering for varied members needs, on and off the track. You have helped so many of us through a difficult year with your positive outlook, perhaps more than you will ever realise. It is wonderful being out again and able to continue making new friends in the best car club.

    Tim & Jamie Wise | Member #416
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

  • 17 Mar 2021 6:13 PM | Anonymous

    At today’s BMW Group Annual Conference the upcoming BMW i4 was revealed.

    “With its sporty looks, best in class driving dynamics and zero local emissions, the BMW i4 is a true BMW. It makes the heart of the BMW brand now beat fully electric,” said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales.

    The BMW i4 is a fully electric 4 door Gran Coupé and will enter the market during the course of 2021, including a BMW M Performance model. Its refined balance of BMW typical sportiness, comfort and sustainable performance are unique in its segment.

    The BMW i4 model line will be available in different versions covering ranges of up to 590km (WLTP) and up to 300 miles* (EPA). With a power output of up to 390kW / 530HP the BMW i4 can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in around 4 seconds.

    First pictures, sketches, footage and video can be found attached to this media information.

    Full details on the BMW i4 will be released over the next weeks.

    BMW PRESS

  • 17 Mar 2021 1:10 PM | Anonymous

    The BMW iX heralds a new age in mobility. It combines trailblazing design and modern luxury with the latest innovations in automated driving, operation, connectivity and digital services. The BMW Group’s new technology flagship focuses on both locally emission-free driving pleasure – combined with the brand’s hallmark sporting ability, efficiency and convincing operating range – and an unwavering, integrated approach to sustainability applied from the ground up.

    The most exacting environmental compatibility requirements have been put in place throughout the value chain and for the full life cycle of the BMW iX. The car is currently in the final phase of its series development. At market launch – which will get underway at the end of 2021 – customers will be able to choose from two model variants: the BMW iX xDrive50 and BMW iX xDrive40.

    The BMW iX redefines the successful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) concept. It is the first model based on a new, modular, scalable toolkit on which the future of the BMW Group will be built. The development and production of the BMW iX follow an all-encompassing approach to sustainability involving compliance with strict environmental and social standards in the extraction of raw materials, plus the use of electricity from renewable sources and a high proportion of recycled materials in the mix.

    “Technology is driving the advances we need to tackle even the greatest challenges. This applies in particular to climate protection,” says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “We are in no doubt: mobility has to be sustainable if it is to represent a truly outstanding solution. For the BMW Group, premium mobility is not possible without responsibility.”

    “We made a promise and we will deliver on that promise: the market launch of the BMW iX will get underway at the end of this year with a two-pronged approach – in the form of the BMW iX xDrive40 and BMW iX xDrive50,” says Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales. “We have already set out the pricing for Germany. For example, the BMW iX xDrive40 will start at 77,300 EUR, which puts it at the level of a comparable BMW X5 with conventional combustion engine. Plus, our customers will now benefit from new additions to the range of vehicle functions that can be uploaded to their cars during ownership, and enjoy a seamless and extremely customer-oriented configuration process with personalised products and services.”

    Monitored raw materials production, across-the-board green power for manufacturing, high proportion of natural and recycled materials.

    The BMW Group procures the cobalt and lithium required for the high-voltage batteries from controlled sources in Australia and Morocco, before supplying them to the battery cell manufacturers. As in the production of the overall vehicle at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, the battery cells are manufactured using exclusively green power from certified sources. And since February 2021 the company has bought in aluminium manufactured using electricity from solar energy plants. The importance placed on conserving resources in the production of the BMW iX is highlighted by the high proportion of secondary aluminium and recycled plastic used. The car’s interior features FSC-certified wood, leather tanned with olive leaf extracts and other natural materials. Among the raw materials used for the floor coverings and mats are recovered fishing nets.

    “Rather than simply passing responsibility on to the supplier network, we take responsibility together with our direct suppliers,” explains Dr Andreas Wendt, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. “In so doing, we tap into our many years of experience and create processes for attaining greater transparency and traceability.”

    Electric motors: enhancing dynamism, reducing the use of critical materials.

    Added to which, the electric motors for the BMW iX are marked out by a design which enables the use of rare earths to be avoided. They work according to the principle of a current-excited synchronous motor. The excitation of the rotor in the BMW iX motors is not induced by fixed permanent magnets, but the feed-in of electric energy. This removes the need for the critical materials used to manufacture magnets, and the BMW Group is therefore not reliant on their availability.

    This special design also has a positive effect on the motors’ performance characteristics. The precisely controlled excitation of the rotor using electric power enables peak torque to be on tap in full immediately on pulling away. And – unlike with electric motors of conventional design – that torque is maintained over an extremely broad rev band. The defining trait of the driving experience on board the BMW iX is, then, power development that is not only lightning fast but also unusually consistent, underscoring the car’s brand-typical sporting excellence.

    In the BMW iX xDrive50, the drive system – which features one electric motor on the front axle and another at the rear axle – produces total output of over 370 kW/500 hp and enables acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 5.0 seconds. The BMW iX xDrive40 has an output of more than 240 kW/300 hp, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a shade over 6.0 seconds.

    Efficient drive system and the latest battery technology increase range.

    The electric motor, transmission and power electronics of the BMW iX come together as a highly integrated package within a single housing. This compact construction also benefits the drive system’s efficiency. Indeed, further boosted by optimised aerodynamics and intelligent lightweight design, the BMW iX posts standout efficiency for its segment. The result is average electric power consumption in the WLTP cycle of less than 21 kWh per 100 kilometres (62 miles) for the BMW iX xDrive50 and under 20 kWh per 100 kilometres (62 miles) in the case of the BMW iX xDrive40.

    Like the electric motors, power electronics and charging technology for the BMW iX, its high-voltage batteries are also the product of fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. They are positioned low down in the vehicle floor as an integral component of the body. The gravimetric energy density of the lithium-ion batteries has been increased by around 20 per cent again over the previous-generation battery.

    The battery cells are manufactured according to precise specifications from the BMW Group and integrated into model-specific high-voltage batteries. The BMW iX xDrive50 is therefore fitted with a battery with a gross energy content of over 100 kWh at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, while the battery unit for the BMW iX xDrive40 has a gross energy content of more than 70 kWh. This gives the BMW iX xDrive50 a range in excess of 600 kilometres (373 miles) in the WLTP test cycle. And the WLTP-calculated range of the BMW iX xDrive40 is more than 400 kilometres (249 miles). (All figures relating to performance, energy consumption and range are predicted values based on the car’s current stage of development.)

    The new charging technology of the BMW iX enables DC (direct current) fast charging with extremely high charging power. The BMW iX xDrive50 can replenish its high-voltage battery at up to 200 kW, while the maximum charging capacity of the BMW iX xDrive40 is 150 kW. All of which means that a ten-minute plug-in time provides sufficient energy to add more than 120 kilometres (75 miles) / 90 kilometres (56 miles) of range. In both model variants, the high-voltage battery’s charge can be increased from 10 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in under 40 minutes.

    New technology toolkit underpins further advances towards automated driving.

    The new technology toolkit making its debut in the BMW iX also provides the platform for significant progress in the areas of automated driving and digital services. For example, the level of computing power has been developed to process 20 times the data volume of previous models. As a result, around double the amount of data from vehicle sensors can be processed than was previously possible.

    “We are setting new industry standards with the technology in the BMW iX. The iX has more computing power for data processing and more powerful sensor technology than the newest vehicles in our current line-up, is 5G-capable, will be given new and improved automated driving and parking functions and uses the high-performing fifth generation of our electric drive system,” says Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.

    Fresh design for a new driving experience.

    The BMW iX is leading the way for a future generation of cars with which the company is redefining sustainability, driving pleasure and what it means to be premium. This trailblazing character is clearly expressed in the car’s design, which has been developed from the inside out. The BMW iX has therefore been created to provide quality of life and wellbeing for drivers and passengers.

    The clear and minimalist design of its exterior showcases a new form of mobility geared squarely to the needs of the vehicle’s occupants. Its interior offers those on board innovative options for using the time during a journey – and enjoying relaxation, safety, security, and a new form of luxury in the process.

    “The BMW iX shows how we can give new technologies a very modern and emotional design. The car is technologically complex, but it feels very clear and uncomplicated,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The BMW iX offers a mobile living space in which people will feel at ease, where the car’s intelligence is only there when you need it.”

    BMW PRESS

  • 9 Mar 2021 9:01 PM | Anonymous

    Event date: 8 March 2021

    Thank you, BMW Drivers Club Melbourne, and Shannon’s Insurance for a very well organised and amazing day, I have never driven around a race track before, and I had the opportunity to have professional drivers with me out on track, what a buzz, sorry Topo.

    I think I am hooked, and big thank you to everyone who put an amazing event together. The icing on the cake was to go out with a professional, to show me how it’s done properly.  Once more thank you all, we are looking forward to the next one.  Thank you, Tim, for your support on the build up to today, after Mark putting my time down for 5 mins per lap and Serena was a big help too, so now I am going to go and get all my kit, and I will be track ready.

    Jennifer Lenard | Partner of Mark Topliss, member #539
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne


    I just wanted to thank you again so much for organising such a great day yesterday. I know a lot of work and organisation goes into events like this and I had the BEST time! I can’t bet how much I loved.

    Thank you again to all the volunteers for all the work you did to put on such a great day. I am particularly thankful that Andrew was such a patient and expert instructor. I know I wouldn’t have gotten as much enjoyment out of the day without his guidance.

    Elise Marrgatt
    clubMINI

    It’s official. I’m a bona fide racing car driver.

    Well, ok …. maybe not officially …. and maybe not legitimately. But I certainly felt like one on the day I attended the BMW Drivers Club Melbourne ‘Come and Try Day’ at the Broadford State Motorcycle complex as a part of the Shannon’s International Women’s Day Festival, and what a feeling it was.

    What a fantastic event! I’m so glad I attended. My time on the track that day is definitely one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life, and one that I am most proud of.  The fact that there was a team of other women just like me out on the track giving it a try made it all the more wonderful.

    I’m so grateful for having the experience and look back now with sadness to think that I almost missed it.

    The event was held on Monday 8 March. Prior to this I had read about the event via the BMWDCM website and Facebook page and had received the member email notifications inviting to join. I had even discussed the event with my partner Andreas and other members of the BMWDCM club.

    But I had ABSOLUTELY NO INTENTION of going. God no. How terrifying.

    Then on Saturday 6 March Andreas and I visited Jo as she was recovering from her recent surgery. During this visit Jo chatted to me about the possibility of my joining the event but I was absolutely steadfast in my resolution that no one was getting me behind the wheel of a car on a race track!!

    But the more we chatted, and the more Jo explained it to me, the more interested I became. Jo explained how everything would proceed on the day. From what to do on arrival, to the briefing sessions and the orientation laps. She explained how many sessions we would have on the tack and how the participants, mainly women, would be split into groups according to capability and experience which meant that I would be in a group with other brave women just like me.  Jo explained everything from how to wear a helmet to what the flag Marshalls would be doing and how the sessions would be run. Finally, she explained that Andreas could be my instructor, and that Andreas would take me out for my first session out on the track to help me orient me and to give me tips and instructions on how to approach the track and how to handle the car. And finally, Jo explained that I could stop at any time that I felt uncomfortable.

    It also helped that Graeme and Andreas, two very capable and competent drivers with significant track experience, were present during this conversation and supported Jo in everything she said. Graeme and Andreas positive and supportive input really helped to make me feel comfortable and safe with my decision to join in on the day. Not once did they make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious by my lack of experience or the fact that I was a woman trying to give it a go.

    Being a conservative, careful and cautious driver at the best of times, I have never felt confident in my driving capability and would never have normally put myself in a position where I felt outside my comfort zone behind the wheel of a car. The complete sum of my motorsport experience prior to this day had been as a spectator supporting Andreas on track days.

    Thank God Jo, Graeme and Andreas worked with me to help me step outside my comfort zone. I could see that I was joining a well-planned and well-regulated event being run by a team of experienced professionals. I felt safe taking a risk.

    And I’m so glad I did. What an amazing experience!

    Thank you to Jo Mawson and Graeme Bell for putting on such a well organised and well executed event. At no stage during the day did I feel intimidated by being in what is usually such a male dominated environment. Nor did I feel embarrassed or self-conscious by my lack of automotive skills and experience. I had an absolute ball and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Being out on the track was a little bit scary, but it was ‘good’ scary. Whilst the conservative in me struggled to get the car past 140kms per hour, it ‘felt’ fast enough for me to feel like I really was giving it a go and that I might even try it again.

    In fact, I think I may have been ‘bitten by the bug’ as I plan to get back out on the race track again soon. BMW DCM is hosting a Driver Training Day at Sandown on 19 June and at Broadford on 17 July which I’m super excited to be attending and can’t wait till registrations open. Head to the BMWDCM website events page for more information. Hopefully I might see you there!

    Thanks again BMWDCM. Thanks also to the VFT Flaggies, Shannon’s, Motorcycle Victoria and Motorsport Australia for their support of the event and their help in running such an awesome day.

    Nella Santisi | Member #141
    BMW Drivers Club Melbourne



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