Z4M at Knockhill

Easty-5

Member
 Aberdeen
Had a trackday at Knockhill yesterday. Was my first trackday since all the suspension and braking changes so was pretty excited to see how it differed. As a complete and utter surprise, the weather was glorious. Cold but sunshine and blue skies all day!

Anyway, the car behaved brilliantly. What a difference the KW Clubsports make. It's unreal! The car was so composed and balanced, it was lovely. I didn't even feel the need to tinker with any settings, kept the dampers set as per KW recommendation, so middle setting for everything. I just played about with tyre pressures and that was all. I was running Nankang NS2-Rs on my track wheels, and for the money you pay they were decent. By no means as good as MPSS but for circa £300 for a full set, no complaints here.

There were some nice cars out there, and other than the 6-700bhp time attack Evos, there wasn't anything that was really any quicker than the Z. I split the day with my friend Clark, who knows how to pedal. We had a really good battle with a Golf R. It was a tiny bit quicker than the Z in a straight line but slower in the corners. We also had an epic battle trying to keep a GTR at bay. Had him behind us for a couple of laps but you just can't get away from its stupid, straight line speed.

A couple of vids from the day. Excuse the wind noise as I stupidly left the open back cover on the Gopro.

1st session - the pace picks up at about 2.40 in;

http://youtu.be/P-_SqAvN0N8

2nd session - Clark driving with some epic lapping the a Golf R and then a GTR. Only wish I had a rear facing camera for the GTR laps.

https://youtu.be/fRiJZ5Kj_r4

Enjoy :driving:
 
Great to see more video from another MR on track. :) I think Knockhill and Croft are the only two UK circuits I've never driven so need to make the effort to get up there at some stage this year. Will watch the videos later on.
 
the car looks incredibly capable..

how happy are you with the suspension?? ... told you they would transform the car.... :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

the car looks so flat and composed!! These dampers are awesome, really awesome!!


I guess lastly are you glad you kept the car now and went with the mod it route??
 
just watched that again and jesus the car with clark at the wheel is pretty much nuts.... cant believe how much he was throwing it around and aggressive with the corner speed etc and it was just sticking, try and do that with a stock car.... very impressive stuff.
 
I've been round Knockhill in my Caterham and it's a tricky technical track to drive
What pressures were you using ? Are you using std brakes as I would imagine they would fade quite quickly
Not sure I'd want to rag my M around there as it's actually quite hard on the car ,although it's really the only place you can safely explore your car ,so well done for that .
 
Good fun watching those videos, looks like you guys enjoyed yourselves, especially at the hairpin :D
Did you have a bit of understeer a few times into 'Scotsman'?

That GTR is astonishingly quick in a straight line!
 
Great vids - lol at the GTR going warp speed, however looks like the diliyhium crystals don't work round corners - great driving :thumbsup:
 
Fishy Dave said:
Good fun watching those videos, looks like you guys enjoyed yourselves, especially at the hairpin :D
Did you have a bit of understeer a few times into 'Scotsman'?

That GTR is astonishingly quick in a straight line!

Had a LOT of fun at the hairpin!

We did get a bit of understeer, especially at Scotsman. Well noticed. The tyres went off quite quick but for the money paid, I have no complaints. My friend Clark competes so he is very handy behind the wheel, really shows what the Z is capable of. At the end of the day, it's a road car which is very, very cable in the right hands.

Beedub, you were 100% correct with the suspension. It made a huge difference to lap times. We (Clark) was 3s quicker compared to my last outing with standard suspension.

I have standards brakes although using Pagid RS29 pads all round and Castrol SRF fluid. This trackday is the only time I have ever felt the Z could do with an extra 50bhp. With my friend Clark driving there was nothing that could keep up with us other than the 700bhp Evos and GTRs.

The Z4M is a proper weapon and a credit to BMW.
 
Great footage, makes me wish the Z wasn't locked up for the winter!

Sorry to change the subject ever so slightly, but OP how are you finding the KW Clubsports on the road compared to the standard suspension?
 
Budgie - I find I do that myself when watching other Z4M Videos. Vmax up the pit straight was about 120mph.

Raiets - the clubsports are perfectly fine on the road. I don't find them too stiff or crashy at all. My Z isn't an everyday car though.
 
Easty-5 said:
Raiets - the clubsports are perfectly fine on the road. I don't find them too stiff or crashy at all. My Z isn't an everyday car though.

Great, thanks for the feedback :thumbsup: Z isn't my everyday car either so hopefully all shall be well :D
 
Was the R remapped? I have one of the mk7s and there's no way it would walk away from the M like that so I'm guessing it was fettled. Having tracked both (my old MR) I can say that the M is way more fun either way but I'm surprised how that red one seems to walk away from you on the straights.
 
Always enjoy watching Clark drive 8) :driving:

That GTR is very rapid when you consider how heavy they are, thanks for sharing the vids as always :thumbsup:
 
Great vid. The M looks superb in the corners, very sharp flat and neutral. My 35is would need a LOT of work in the chassis to keep up.

The GTR passing then slowing to your speeds in the corners reminds me of the old RS500 touring cars and the new BMW M3's in the late eighties, the cossie would blast past with around 560BHP compared to the 280/300 M's but the Sierra did'nt have the chassis so the M3 could live with them through the bends.

Thanks for posting the vid, enjoyed it.
 
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