The BMW M8 Competition is a powerful yet bulky GT car. Let’s see how it handles the long, sweeping, understeer-inducing corners of Willow Springs Raceway.
The M8 Competition is the most potent version of the 8 Series. It packs a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 600 hp @ 6000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque between 1800-5600 rpm. But, it weighs more than 2 tonnes and is loaded with every creature comfort one could imagine. Now, that’s not particularly ideal for setting a good lap time.
The M8 also has all-wheel drive, which aides with traction. But, it’s the long sweeping corners that will test the M8’s chassis. Despite all that mass and a big V8 up front, the front end hooks up pretty well before the all-wheel drive system and 600 hp catapult it out of the corners. In the hands of Randy Pobst, the M8 Competition sets a lap time of 1 min 31.05 seconds.