BMW M4 CSL sets a new lap record at the Nürburgring

The BMW M4 CSL has broken its previous lap record at the Nürburgring. After holding the title of BMW’s fastest production car and mid-range car for more than a year, the Garching-based company was aiming to improve. Test driver Jörg Weidinger re-attempted the Green Hell circuit and shaved more than two seconds off his lap time, clocking 7:18.137 minutes.

This extends the gap over its closest competitor, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8, to more than five seconds. The BMW M3 CS (G80) is more than 10 seconds behind at 7:28.760, and the M3 Touring station wagon (G81) is nearly 17 seconds slower than the coupe. The video of the new record lap, which includes commentary by Jörg Weidinger, offers insights for Nordschleife enthusiasts.

The record was no surprise to us. Last year, while riding shotgun at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Weidinger recalled that when he raced the M4 CSL at the Nürburgring, the weather conditions were far from ideal. At the time, he stated that a few seconds could easily be shaved off if “all the stars” were aligned.

However, for those who are not well-versed in the language of the Nürburgring, it is important to understand the context of lap times. The previously mentioned time of 7 minutes and 18.137 seconds includes the entire circuit, which is 20.832 kilometers long. In contrast, the most common lap times discussed by motoring magazines are based on a slightly shorter route of 20,600 km, excluding the straight section in the start-finish area.

This achievement exceeds the officially recorded time of the M4 CSL by more than 3.5 seconds, which confirms the car’s exceptional capabilities on this famous track. On the same day, Weidinger also lapd the Green Hell in an M2 G87, crossing the finish line in 7:38.70 to set a new record among compact cars.