Skip advert
Advertisement

New BMW M5 breaks world’s longest drift record in the US

The BMW M5 has managed an 8-hour, 232-mile drift. BMW also broke the tandem slide world record while it was at it.

For all those who were just thinking that the Guinness World Record for the longest drift needed to be broken, BMW has just answered the call. The firm has performed the longest continual wet drift over the course of 232.5 miles in the new F90 BMW M5

The stunt took a total of eight hours with BMW racing driver Johan Schwartz at the wheel, sliding the new 592bhp super saloon on a skidpan at an average speed of 29mph. In order to keep the drift going over such a long length of time, BMW needed to figure out a way of refuelling the M5 on the move and BMW precision driver Matt Mullins was employed to pilot a second (F10) M5 to act as a mid-drift re-fuelling rig.

Advertisement - Article continues below

> Click here for our review of the new BMW M5

The two M5s then completed a stunning tandem drift (itself a new world record for a tandem drift at 49.25 miles) while stuntman Matt Burns hung out the rear window refuelling the car through a bespoke racecar-style refuelling rig. A total of five refuelling sessions were required to keep the M5 going over the course of the record drift.

The M5's record drift sees it take over from one set in 2014 in a Toyota GT 86 at 89.55 miles, meaning BMW more than doubled the previous record. One may remember that the new BMW M5 is all-wheel drive, but one would safely assume the aptly-named drift mode would have been activated for the attempt.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

BMW M5 (F10, 2011 - 2016) review: a 550bhp super saloon for £20k
F10 BMW M5
In-depth reviews

BMW M5 (F10, 2011 - 2016) review: a 550bhp super saloon for £20k

Voluminous turbocharged grunt, to match its growth in size and weight, defined the F10 M5
4 Nov 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Volkswagen Golf GTI review – once the definitive hot hatch, is it still one of the best?
Golf GTI
In-depth reviews

Volkswagen Golf GTI review – once the definitive hot hatch, is it still one of the best?

The latest Golf GTI is fast, capable and easy to live with, now with improved if not perfected HMI and driving dynamics
19 May 2026
Theon Design Porsche 911 review – twice a GT3 RS's price, but twice the car?
Theon Design Porsche 911
Reviews

Theon Design Porsche 911 review – twice a GT3 RS's price, but twice the car?

Theon Design's latest Porsche 911 restomod calls back classic racers and costs twice as much as the best new 911. We drive it to see if it's worth it
21 May 2026
New V8-powered Vision BMW Alpina previews a future Aston Martin rival
BMW Vision Alpina – front
News

New V8-powered Vision BMW Alpina previews a future Aston Martin rival

Alpina is now part of the BMW Group, and its new era begins with a striking two-door V8-engined concept
15 May 2026