BMW RingTaxi M5 replaced with BMW M3 | CarAdvice

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BMW RingTaxi M5 replaced with BMW M3

BMW M5
By Brett Davis |
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No more BMW M5 RingTaxi. It’s true, the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife will no longer host thrilling hot laps for customers in an E60 V10 BMW M5. BMW says a BMW M3 will now be used.

Just as unfortunate, Sabine Schmitz – the lady who famously took up Jeremy Clarkson’s challenge of completing a lap of the circuit in a Ford Transit van in under 10 minutes – is no longer a part of the RingTaxi drivers team. BMW said in a recent statement that other professional BMW advanced drivers would continue to run the program.

So it’s not really that big of a deal for those simply seeking a few thrills on the track. But for true Nurburgring aficionados, the news is devastating. BMW and the M5 have been conducting RingTaxi laps for decades now. The problem is, this might just be the tip of the iceberg as it seems the new track owners are doing everything they can to cut ownership costs. We just hope the RingTaxi isn’t eventually cancelled altogether.

There is some light at the end of this dark tunnel though, because Sabine has announced she will be providing ‘SpeedTaxi’ laps in a 997 Porsche GT3 RS race-prepped car instead.

Although the idea of you and three of your mates squashing into a V10 sedan to be flung around by Sabine sounds pretty good, the one-on-one experience in the GT3 is sure to be just as pleasing.

Apart from the car swap, the other main difference is the price. It will now cost 449 euros ($620) to go for a lap with Sabine compared with the BMW RingTaxi price of 195 euros ($269).


 

  • cjg22

    Just quickly, Sabine did not beat 10 mins in the Transit, I think it was about 10min13sec. even so, it was a brilliant display of driving.

    • http://caradvice.com.au Brett Davis

      Quite right. Edited.
      Cheers

  • Robin Graves

    I reckon she is the new stig

    • Pablo

      I’m with you Robin

    • Steve

      Nah, the stig has a flat chest. Its got to be a very small dude.

  • Des

    She would have easily beat 10 minutes, maybe even closer to 9, if they gave her one of the better euro vans to use and not a crappy Transit. At the time of JC’s Jag challenge she said “I could beat that time in a van”, she didn’t say a Transit van. VBH, on 5th gear, was putting a couple of vans (a VW and a Merc??) around Anglesea circuit and one of them was wickedly fast for a van.

  • Al Juraj

    I’m quite sure the new M5 will be assigned the ‘Ring duty once it’s launched. As the E60 is now out of production, maybe the E92 M3 is just a stand-in.

  • John of Perth

    For me the Ring Taxi will always be Sabine and the E39 M5.

  • Valet Dabess

    Well if I was going for a ride I’d wanna be in the most sideways car possible and I think m5 would be runner to be going sideways in

  • Ben

    I was fortunate enough to experience the BMW M5 Ring Taxi being driven by Sabine Schmitz in September last year. I was even lucky enough to have the front seat. One of the highlights of my life!!!!!!!

    • Phil

      OMG – me too!
      Only I was in the back seat.