Welcome to the trackside upshot brimming with enthusiasm for sport driving.  M Fest has been a hit thus far, with a spectacular opening night and plenty of surprises.

A good place to start would be the surprise appearance of two very special guests: the new M5 and curiously named M3 CRT (continuing for "Carbon Racing Engineering").  The proper noun is obvious considering the number of carbon fiber parts featured on the motorcar, including a new carbon cobweb bonnet.  But if we're completely honest, the acronym sounds a touch Japanese, as in "The new Honda Civic CRT."  We prefer the badges of yesteryear, "Coupe Sport Light" comes to listen.

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All the same, nosotros positively dear the new M3 CRT: it makes u.s. drool something rabid.  The motor from the M3 GTS?  A total curb weight of three,483 lb?  Four doors for friends to join the fun?  Nosotros'll have ours in the gorgeous Frozen Polar Silver metalic paint equally seen in the accompanying photos.  Unfortunately, information technology's non looking promising that we can get our hands on one of the 67 due for product.

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The M5 on display featured our honey Monte Carlo Blue pigment, and information technology sat imposingly in the corner of the auditorium as we enjoyed our get-go form dinner and drinks.  The new M5 is a car that grows on us with every passing day.  Its lines are bold and muslcular in an unprecedented mode – jutting out more than than on any previous M5.

After dinner and speeches from BMW representitives, we enjoyed live music from the very talented Brian Watts and band.  Brian is the Global Head of M Sales and Marketing, and if his ability to rock on on stage is any indication: he is as wild and fun to spend time with as an One thousand car.  I suppose most cars have on the personalities of their makers, and that is a compliment to both Brian and Thousand cars.

BMW went to the trouble of setting upward Xbox 360s featuring Forza Motorsport 4 with steering wheels and human foot pedals to lap the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race rail in the new M5.  Fifty-fifty on screen, information technology is a visceral feel, and it certainly wet our ambition for the racing left to come throughout the weekend.

We enjoyed every moment of Thousand Fest thus far, and we await forward to bringing you lot frequent updates and live coverage from the race.