Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 130i M Sport

The 130i made its trackday debut at the end of March when the evoactive circus arrived at Snetterton. Having never visited the Norfolk circuit before, and after getting questionable advice from Bovingdon on how to attack Coram Curve, my first few laps were understandably tentative as I learnt the lines and steadily built up the pace.

The 130i made its trackday debut at the end of March when the evoactive circus arrived at Snetterton. Having never visited the Norfolk circuit before, and after getting questionable advice from Bovingdon on how to attack Coram Curve, my first few laps were understandably tentative as I learnt the lines and steadily built up the pace.

The little BMW gives great confidence on super-smooth tarmac, its stiff set-up finding grip everywhere. With the traction control disabled, the lack of an M diff was noticeable, but the 130 still moved around on every corner, with Coram being the highlight, taken very quickly and slightly sideways.

The trackday also gave me my first chance to run with racers instead of trackday goers, and the difference is striking. When two trackday punters find themselves sharing the same piece of tarmac they quickly place themselves on opposing white lines until the overtake is complete; with the race boys you're lucky to keep your mirrors! Mind you, if your fancy race-car was being chased down by some kid in a road car, you'd be upset too...

Running Costs

Date acquiredNovember 2005
Total mileage9853
Costs this month£0
Mileage this month2058
MPG this month28.8mpg
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Puma review – the best-seller that’s still no patch on the Fiesta
Ford Puma
In-depth reviews

Ford Puma review – the best-seller that’s still no patch on the Fiesta

The Ford Puma melds some of the Fiesta’s charm with big-selling crossover form factor, but we still miss a proper small Ford hatch
21 Aug 2026
Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company's sports cars
Lotus factory
Features

Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company's sports cars

The Emira will live on and there's an Esprit supercar on the way, but Lotus has another plan to keep Hethel active
18 Aug 2026
Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money
Lotus Exige S V6
In-depth reviews

Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money

For the S3 generation the Lotus Exige got a lot brawnier, trading the four-cylinder engines it had hitherto utilised for a supercharged Toyota V6
21 Aug 2026