BMW LIFESTYLE 10/11

BMW MOTORSPORT COLLECTION
THE STORY
OF THE BEAST.
EVERY YEAR: THE 24-HOUR RACE AT THE NÜRBURGRING.
It’s 3.04 pm, and the beast stirs for the
first time. At the Brünnchen section of
the Nordschleife track, a generator chugs
away; glasses clink on the camping table.
The people in the neighbouring tent are
listening to AC/DC – “Highway to Hell”.
But now a gravelly note seems to enter
the singer’s voice. He sounds like he’s in
need of a throat lozenge. A few more
seconds pass. Then the beast arrives.
A moment later, the AC/DC song is no
longer to be heard. “Vrrrrroooooooo -
aaa aaaa rrrrrrrummmm.” The sound is
so powerful that you feel the vibration
in your gut. The ladies among the
spectators put their hands over their ears.
One second later, the BMW M3 GT2
has passed the Brünnchen straight and
enters the next corner. Dean leans back
in his camping chair, reaches for his
coffee mug and says: “Now it’ll be quiet
again for a few minutes.” At least as far
as the BMW is concerned, which takes
around eight minutes to complete one
25.378 km lap on the Nürburgring
Nordschleife. Dean lovingly refers to it
as “the beast”.
Among motorsport fans, Brünnchen
is considered the best place to experience
the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
There is a colourful assortment of tents,
parasols and gazebos and, in the
background, the track – visible through
a tall wire mesh fence and the smoke
of barbecue fires.
If it weren’t for this, and the music, snack
bars and drinks vendors, Brünnchen could
be just another campsite. Over 220,000
fans visit the Nürburgring each year, turning
the Brünnchen, Schwalbenschwanz and
Karussell meadows into their home from
home. The British contingent usually
arrives with jeeps and army vehicles, and if
you are not there five days before the race,
you won’t find a space.
It is 10.43 pm now. The BMW has
passed Dean’s lookout, surrounded
by deckchairs, radios and cool boxes,
61 times. Dean is oblivious to the
campfire at the neighbouring tent, or the
fireworks painting red circles into the night
sky. He’s seen it all before. Another 16
hours of motorsport fun, the smell of oil
and rubber, and, if all goes well for the
BMW Motorsport team, regular visits by
the beast. One of 217 race cars whose
engine roar does a better job of keeping
you awake than any energy drink.
In the morning, the sun breaks through
the trees. Shafts of light illuminate the site,
revealing smouldering campfires, dewcovered
tents and enthusiasts who have
been following the race all night.
BMW MOTORSPORT COLLECTION
A still life, were it not for the race cars
still circling the track. It is their rhythm
that has kept Dean awake. He is squinting
at the sun. Another eight hours before
the BMW M3 GT2 will complete the race.
Another 64 laps. Then the beast will
finally rest.
QUICK LINK
www.bmw-shop.com/motorsport
All products on catalogue
pages 94 – 99.
22 You can fi nd all the products at your BMW dealer or on the bmw-shop.com website. 23