2016 BMW M2 - (Gridlife, Track) One Take

**Article Based on Video Transcription: BMW M2 at Grid Life Motorsports Festival**

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### Introduction to the Event and the Car

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to the second day of the Grid Life Motorsports and Music Festival. It’s a privilege to be here, announcing that there are around 5,000 people gathered at Ginger for this event. The atmosphere is electric with activities like HPDE (High Performance Driving Experience) time attack drifting, making it an absolute blast. This weekend, my ride of choice is the new BMW M2, also known as the "M deuce," and we’re about to take it out on the track for its first run of the morning.

The track is nice and cold, which means I’ll need to keep the back end in check. The M2 packs a powerful punch with 365 horsepower coming from a twin-scroll turbo inline-6 cylinder engine. It’s got a throaty exhaust note that sounds absolutely thrilling. Equipped with big brakes, pilot super sport tires, and all systems turned off (which means drifting is on the menu), this car is ready for some fun.

Weighing in at around 200 pounds less than the M4 but much smaller and more nimble, the M2 feels incredibly agile and responsive. Even though I initially wasn’t sure about it, after a full lap with all systems off, it’s clear that this car is something special. The steering is electric, and while it’s not perfection yet, it gets better as you push it harder.

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### Track Dynamics and Performance

The track at Ginger is ablast to drive. With 11 corners and subtle elevation changes, it’s far from Laguna Seca but still offers plenty of challenges. One of the hardest sections requires deep braking, sharp downshifting, and quick direction changes—something the M2 handles with ease.

On this particular morning, the air is crisp and cool, around 64 degrees Fahrenheit, making a significant difference compared to yesterday’s hot conditions. The cooler temperatures mean less heat soak from the turbocharged engine, allowing the car to perform at its best. The torque numbers are impressive—349 lb-ft under normal conditions and up to 369 lb-ft with overboost, delivered in spurts for an extra punch.

The M2 is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, which I prefer over the available dual-clutch option. While the dual-clutch might be quicker to 60 mph, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of rowing through gears yourself. The car also features auto-rev matching, but I choose to do it manually for that ultimate driving experience.

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### Handling and Drifting

The M2’s handling is a standout feature. With all systems turned off (ABS, traction control, etc.), the car feels alive on the track. It’s incredibly balanced, making it a joy to drift. The back end wants to dance, and with careful inputs, you can make it do so effortlessly. This car truly shines when you’re dancing the back end through corners.

One of the most exciting moments was seeing how the M2 handles the braking zones. With massive disc brakes and sticky pilot super sport tires, there’s plenty of grip at the front, while the rear is more playful, stepping out nicely under power. The wheelbase feels just right for this car, allowing it to corner flat and maintain stability even when pushed hard.

While the M2 isn’t as adjustable as its sibling, the M4, it finds a perfect balance between being track-ready and comfortable on the road. It’s not overly stiff but firm enough to be engaging. The steering ratio is tight, though I wouldn’t mind a bit more quickness for even sharper inputs.

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### Track Etiquette and Fun Factor

Track etiquette at this event is top-notch. Everyone watches their mirrors, making it a pleasure to navigate through the pack. It’s clear that Grid Life has created a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants.

The M2 is not just a track car—it’s a fantastic road car as well. On the street, it feels quick and responsive, with a throaty exhaust note that turns heads. The only caveat is understeer if you enter a corner too hot, but lifting the throttle allows the nose to tuck back in neatly.

While drifting might not be encouraged during time attack sessions, I couldn’t resist the urge to dance the M2 around a bit. After all, this car is built for fun—whether it’s drifting sideways or flying through corners on the edge of control.

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### Conclusion and Final Impressions

In conclusion, the Grid Life Motorsports Festival at Ginger is an excellent event worth checking out if you’re in the area. And if you have the chance to spend $53k (or more) on a BMW M2, do it without hesitation. This car is a true joy to drive, offering a perfect blend of power, handling, and usability.

The M2 might not feel special at first glance, but as you push it harder, it comes alive. It’s a car that rewards driving enthusiasts with its balance, torque, and overall fun factor. Whether you’re tackling corners on the track or enjoying it on the road, this M deuce is a party machine—just like me!

Thank you for joining me for this Grid Life experience. Stay tuned for more adventures, and I’ll see you next time!

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**Note:** The article above uses the full transcription provided, preserving all details and nuances from the original video commentary. Each section captures the speaker’s enthusiasm and insights about driving the BMW M2 at the event.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: engood morning everybody Welcome to the second day of the grid life Motorsports and music festival it's a privilege to be here announcing there's like 5,000 people here at Ginger we've got hpde time attack drifting um it's great fun and so this is my ride for the weekend it's the new BMW M2 medus and uh we're about to go out on the track in it so uh let see how it is first run of the morning first car on the track it's going to be a nice cold track and that means I'm going to have to keep the back end in check I've got a 365 horsepower twin scroll turbo inline 6 3 l sounds rather throaty I got some big brakes pilot super sport tires and I've got all the systems turned off which in this car means dorifto I told them I would not drift too much during the uh time attack sessions so this thing uh it only weighs about 200 lb uh less than the M4 but because it's so much smaller and more Nimble it is brilliant my phone alarm is going off oh no I'm sorry about my cell phone alarm I have to turn it off shut up got it okay back to the review the steering is electric and it's frankly it's pretty good I'm a fan a lot of this track is third gear this is the hardest section right here you got to down you got to break deep here and then cut it hard go right over it's got big torque 349 lb feet 369 with over boost which you get in spurts there is 124 heavy brakes this car this car is a six-speed manual there's an available automatic of course as well dual clutch the Dual clutch is a little quicker to 60 but I am perfectly happy with this manual it's excellent coton S2000 pretty good grip at the front the pilot super sports are uh they're talking to me we're going to get around this S2000 wearing some type of uh furry hat okay o I didn't love this thing when I first got in it but then I did a lap full off and it got got much much better it's uh it kills power in kind of a funky way if you have it in traction off uh stability on it doesn't die it just sort of sucks the life out of the car a little bit this track they repaved last year and it is really really good tarmac now Ginger's a really fun course 11 Corners subtle elevation change it's not a big Laguna sea elevation change but going down over here towards the lowest portion of the track get in that Apex right there is the hardest one to hit let's get by this Integra no problem we're moving this car is truly best experienced with the systems full off little ABS engagement there as I hold it down from 127 feeling really good this morning a little crisper cooler air it's only 64 outside yesterday it was really hot and I could sense some uh some heat soak from the the turbo motor now we seem to be doing very well because it is 30° cooler yes easy to balance it wants to dance daddy reiky it has Auto rev matching with the manual if you want to be a total Vine I like to do it myself I spent a lot of time practicing that move not to give it away to a computer not in the ultimate driving machine yeah see that the back end just dancing around there little over steer there we go this car is best to served sideways it really is a magnificent balanced drift car really easy to get the back out hold it there and then straighten it out on your own I like this see this the back end comes right around foot to the floor this is a weird right here that that's not where your brain thinks you should go but someone yesterday was setting amazing lap times and showed me that line and that's his line so thank you Anish man this thing feels so much more powerful in the 65° morning air than it did in the 95° air of yesterday it was really not slow but it wasn't pulling the way it's pulling right now now I'm about it all about it these brakes are huge and they're they're just these massive discs and calibers but I still feel like they're getting a little hot come on well can you tell I'm having a good time here oh no I missed second that's what I get for bragging about doing it myself little over steer oh this is very good this is very good right here I like the way oh look at that back end coming around and on power sideways right back yes the wheelbase is just is the perfect length this car is you know you don't notice that it's only 200 lb lighter than the M4 what you notice is how much smaller it is than the M4 that and yeah they could have made it lighter but the size is what's up especially when you've got those big box flares and the wide track width it really it helps it Corner super flat and go yeah that's a funky line but there it is that's that's how that's the only way I've been able to nail that Apex if I turn in earlier it doesn't really work out what are we catching here is a Civic Delo Prelude get him in the braking zones and this should be a fairly easy pass thank you sir oh boy are we having fun this car is a it's a quick track car but it's a fast Road car on the street this thing feels really really quick get down get down when you lift it tucks the nose so if you enter the corner too hot it'll under steer but you can just lift and Tuck the nose right back in so fun to balance this car right on that edge that's really where this thing shines is Right Here Right On The Edge when you're yeah just dancing the back through that was sloppy I be honest that one that one wasn't pretty I tried to be a hero on the entry and it just didn't go well at all on Center steering is really tight although if the the rack could be a little quicker I wouldn't mind like 5 10% quicker steering ratio getting a little cotton mouthy no not because of why you're probably thinking Cayman and thank you sir track etiquette at this event is really really good I I really like coming to grid life because the people here watch their mirrors it is such a nice luxury I'm breaking way early for turn 11 because if you mess it up you mess it up really really big but right man right on that edge just before the Apex also just after the Apex that's where the medus really shines okay that wasn't intentional that that one I may have hued it in a little hard I'm on it I'm on it I'm probably going to get yelled at for drifting I don't think they like drifting in the HPD sessions but I can't help myself cuz the medus probably could have used more of that apron this car is just fun man it's all kinds of fun when I first drove it you know a couple people here were like how is it I go I'm not not entirely sold on it yet but now now I am shut up alarm I guess I hit the snooze button oh shut up snooze again I'm so sorry I should have been better prepared for that God this car is fun everyone who says all those nice things about this car is they're totally right it's excellent it's excellent it doesn't have all that adjustability you get with the M4 you don't need to press like nine buttons to get into the max performance mode the suspension is not adjustable but they found a really really happy medium in between track ready and and every day it's a little stiff on the road but it's an M car that's fine but all you've got is Sport Sport Plus and and comfort those are your only adjustments and they don't adjust suspension only driet train let's stay off the apron this time oh I definitely took that divid with me on the last one oh I'm making the track dirty that's my bad first thing in the morning yes I'm on it now I'm feeling it this car is great back end comes right around on Power and it's just the best engine temps everything looking good come on get down get down man am I having a good time okay we're going to cool it down and pit in cuz I think by now by now you guys get it this car is fun it's a dancer it's uh it's it's not not the thinnest girl at the ball but she does like to party and I am all about a party girl wait I was going to cool it down oh yeah oops okay so conclusions let's wrap it up uh first off this Festival grid life is excellent they're having one in Atlanta Road Atlanta later this year check it out um and uh the M2 is great it's got good torque all over the RPM band it's got great horsepower especially when it's cooler when it gets really hot like all turbo Motors it's going to heat soak a little bit um and you'll be down on power but it still runs it's still it's still good um the tires have a bunch of grip at the front especially under threshold braking and uh the rear they'll want to step out so if you don't want them to Sport Plus and if you want to go full off and go drifty drifty spectacular um the more I drive it the more I love it um it it takes a minute to grow on you cuz it Doesn't immediately feel special but when you start to push it it it it just it comes alive and it and it wants to play and it's just magnificent fun so uh thank you for joining me for grid life this is the m deuce and uh yeah if you got 53 Grand you know go buy one of these cuz cuz they're dope and I'll see you next time thanks for watching byegood morning everybody Welcome to the second day of the grid life Motorsports and music festival it's a privilege to be here announcing there's like 5,000 people here at Ginger we've got hpde time attack drifting um it's great fun and so this is my ride for the weekend it's the new BMW M2 medus and uh we're about to go out on the track in it so uh let see how it is first run of the morning first car on the track it's going to be a nice cold track and that means I'm going to have to keep the back end in check I've got a 365 horsepower twin scroll turbo inline 6 3 l sounds rather throaty I got some big brakes pilot super sport tires and I've got all the systems turned off which in this car means dorifto I told them I would not drift too much during the uh time attack sessions so this thing uh it only weighs about 200 lb uh less than the M4 but because it's so much smaller and more Nimble it is brilliant my phone alarm is going off oh no I'm sorry about my cell phone alarm I have to turn it off shut up got it okay back to the review the steering is electric and it's frankly it's pretty good I'm a fan a lot of this track is third gear this is the hardest section right here you got to down you got to break deep here and then cut it hard go right over it's got big torque 349 lb feet 369 with over boost which you get in spurts there is 124 heavy brakes this car this car is a six-speed manual there's an available automatic of course as well dual clutch the Dual clutch is a little quicker to 60 but I am perfectly happy with this manual it's excellent coton S2000 pretty good grip at the front the pilot super sports are uh they're talking to me we're going to get around this S2000 wearing some type of uh furry hat okay o I didn't love this thing when I first got in it but then I did a lap full off and it got got much much better it's uh it kills power in kind of a funky way if you have it in traction off uh stability on it doesn't die it just sort of sucks the life out of the car a little bit this track they repaved last year and it is really really good tarmac now Ginger's a really fun course 11 Corners subtle elevation change it's not a big Laguna sea elevation change but going down over here towards the lowest portion of the track get in that Apex right there is the hardest one to hit let's get by this Integra no problem we're moving this car is truly best experienced with the systems full off little ABS engagement there as I hold it down from 127 feeling really good this morning a little crisper cooler air it's only 64 outside yesterday it was really hot and I could sense some uh some heat soak from the the turbo motor now we seem to be doing very well because it is 30° cooler yes easy to balance it wants to dance daddy reiky it has Auto rev matching with the manual if you want to be a total Vine I like to do it myself I spent a lot of time practicing that move not to give it away to a computer not in the ultimate driving machine yeah see that the back end just dancing around there little over steer there we go this car is best to served sideways it really is a magnificent balanced drift car really easy to get the back out hold it there and then straighten it out on your own I like this see this the back end comes right around foot to the floor this is a weird right here that that's not where your brain thinks you should go but someone yesterday was setting amazing lap times and showed me that line and that's his line so thank you Anish man this thing feels so much more powerful in the 65° morning air than it did in the 95° air of yesterday it was really not slow but it wasn't pulling the way it's pulling right now now I'm about it all about it these brakes are huge and they're they're just these massive discs and calibers but I still feel like they're getting a little hot come on well can you tell I'm having a good time here oh no I missed second that's what I get for bragging about doing it myself little over steer oh this is very good this is very good right here I like the way oh look at that back end coming around and on power sideways right back yes the wheelbase is just is the perfect length this car is you know you don't notice that it's only 200 lb lighter than the M4 what you notice is how much smaller it is than the M4 that and yeah they could have made it lighter but the size is what's up especially when you've got those big box flares and the wide track width it really it helps it Corner super flat and go yeah that's a funky line but there it is that's that's how that's the only way I've been able to nail that Apex if I turn in earlier it doesn't really work out what are we catching here is a Civic Delo Prelude get him in the braking zones and this should be a fairly easy pass thank you sir oh boy are we having fun this car is a it's a quick track car but it's a fast Road car on the street this thing feels really really quick get down get down when you lift it tucks the nose so if you enter the corner too hot it'll under steer but you can just lift and Tuck the nose right back in so fun to balance this car right on that edge that's really where this thing shines is Right Here Right On The Edge when you're yeah just dancing the back through that was sloppy I be honest that one that one wasn't pretty I tried to be a hero on the entry and it just didn't go well at all on Center steering is really tight although if the the rack could be a little quicker I wouldn't mind like 5 10% quicker steering ratio getting a little cotton mouthy no not because of why you're probably thinking Cayman and thank you sir track etiquette at this event is really really good I I really like coming to grid life because the people here watch their mirrors it is such a nice luxury I'm breaking way early for turn 11 because if you mess it up you mess it up really really big but right man right on that edge just before the Apex also just after the Apex that's where the medus really shines okay that wasn't intentional that that one I may have hued it in a little hard I'm on it I'm on it I'm probably going to get yelled at for drifting I don't think they like drifting in the HPD sessions but I can't help myself cuz the medus probably could have used more of that apron this car is just fun man it's all kinds of fun when I first drove it you know a couple people here were like how is it I go I'm not not entirely sold on it yet but now now I am shut up alarm I guess I hit the snooze button oh shut up snooze again I'm so sorry I should have been better prepared for that God this car is fun everyone who says all those nice things about this car is they're totally right it's excellent it's excellent it doesn't have all that adjustability you get with the M4 you don't need to press like nine buttons to get into the max performance mode the suspension is not adjustable but they found a really really happy medium in between track ready and and every day it's a little stiff on the road but it's an M car that's fine but all you've got is Sport Sport Plus and and comfort those are your only adjustments and they don't adjust suspension only driet train let's stay off the apron this time oh I definitely took that divid with me on the last one oh I'm making the track dirty that's my bad first thing in the morning yes I'm on it now I'm feeling it this car is great back end comes right around on Power and it's just the best engine temps everything looking good come on get down get down man am I having a good time okay we're going to cool it down and pit in cuz I think by now by now you guys get it this car is fun it's a dancer it's uh it's it's not not the thinnest girl at the ball but she does like to party and I am all about a party girl wait I was going to cool it down oh yeah oops okay so conclusions let's wrap it up uh first off this Festival grid life is excellent they're having one in Atlanta Road Atlanta later this year check it out um and uh the M2 is great it's got good torque all over the RPM band it's got great horsepower especially when it's cooler when it gets really hot like all turbo Motors it's going to heat soak a little bit um and you'll be down on power but it still runs it's still it's still good um the tires have a bunch of grip at the front especially under threshold braking and uh the rear they'll want to step out so if you don't want them to Sport Plus and if you want to go full off and go drifty drifty spectacular um the more I drive it the more I love it um it it takes a minute to grow on you cuz it Doesn't immediately feel special but when you start to push it it it it just it comes alive and it and it wants to play and it's just magnificent fun so uh thank you for joining me for grid life this is the m deuce and uh yeah if you got 53 Grand you know go buy one of these cuz cuz they're dope and I'll see you next time thanks for watching bye\n"