BMW Shreds World Drift Record, Twice
In January 2018, BMW broke its own world drift record twice in a single day at its Spartanburg, South Carolina facility. Driver Johan Schwartz first obliterated the 2013 benchmark of 51.278 miles by drifting an F90 BMW M5 continuously for 232.5 miles, using a custom mid-air-style refuelling system to keep the car moving. Then, without leaving the site, Schwartz and co-driver Matt Mullins executed a world-record tandem drift covering 49.25 miles in one hour.
How BMW Broke the Longest Drift Record
Drifting 232.5 miles continuously in a 600 hp twin-turbocharged V8 requires solving one fundamental problem: fuel consumption. The BMW M5's 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8 running at drift angles and high throttle consumes fuel at a rate that makes a standard tank good for a fraction of the distance attempted. BMW's engineers designed a custom mid-drift refuelling rig, operating on the same principle as aerial refuelling for military aircraft. A second BMW M5 in the F10 generation ran in parallel at a fixed distance, allowing technician Matt Butts to transfer fuel to the drifting car while both vehicles remained in continuous motion on the Spartanburg test track.
"Although we practiced the refueling several times before the Guinness World Records title attempt, there was very little margin for error," said Matt Butts. The operation required precise speed matching between the two cars and a steady hand during fuel transfer, while the lead M5 maintained a constant drift angle for over eight hours and more than 2,000 laps.
The Tandem Drift Record: 49.25 Miles in One Hour
Immediately after completing the 232.5-mile solo drift record, BMW raised the stakes further. Schwartz returned to the track alongside professional driver Matt Mullins in a second M5, this time executing a water-assisted tandem drift: two BMW M5s running side by side in synchronised drift for a full hour, covering 49.25 miles. Water was used on the track surface to extend rear-wheel slip and maintain the drift state continuously. The combination of two drivers, two cars, and sustained synchronisation under Guinness World Records adjudication made this the most technically complex drift record attempt BMW had undertaken.
The BMW M5 as a Record-Breaking Tool
The F90 BMW M5 used for the record runs is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 with twin turbochargers producing 600 hp and 750 Nm of torque. Its M xDrive all-wheel-drive system features a rear-wheel-drive mode specifically designed for track and drift applications, disabling front-wheel torque delivery to allow the rear axle to break traction at will. This is the same engineering philosophy BMW has applied to its M division since the original E28 M5 in 1985, developed progressively into the record-breaking platforms seen at Spartanburg. For a deeper look at the BMW M5 F90's performance credentials, see Car and Driver's BMW M5 coverage and the Guinness World Records official site.
BMW Heritage and Motorsport at TheArsenale
BMW's motorsport legacy extends far beyond drift records. The CSL 1 Hood from After The Race and the CSL 72 Hood are genuine race-car panels from BMW's CSL competition history, sourced and framed as collector wall pieces. Explore the full range of one-off racing memorabilia in the After The Race collection, and browse Racing and Emotion for motorsport-inspired art and furniture curated by TheArsenale.
