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RGM's supercharged M3 sets new lap record at Kyalami

There’s been a change of pecking order in the fast car aftermarket, with Kyalami’s existing lap record for a street-legal forced-induction BMW smashed by a supercharged E92 M3 built and owned by RG Motorsport of Strydom Park, Randburg, on Sunday July 25.
 
Circuit ace Reghard Roets set the new benchmark early in the morning of a Bridgestone-sponsored BMW/Porsche track day, powering the howling 504 kW/634 Nm gunmetal monster around the Highveld circuit in an astonishing one minute 54,03 seconds. Shod with street-legal Dunlop semi-slick tyres, the supercharged V8 coupe comfortably eclipsed the existing best time, and moved firmly into the league of the likes of the 335i production racers.
 
“This isn’t a track car disguised as a road car and it wasn’t built with lap records or track usage in mind, which makes the way it coped with this kind of stress even more impressive,” said Roets, who works for RGM when not pushing track cars to the limit. “Despite its pace it remains docile and exceptionally refined in normal driving and the only issue on the day was the tendency for the power steering fluid to overheat after a number of flying laps.”
 
The car is essentially identical to what any M3 owner could order from RGM, a company which specialises in forced induction installations for BMWs and prides itself in a level of craftsmanship which makes their engine bays a joy to behold. Not only that, but their conversions are underpinned by solid engineering and thorough research and development.
 
“When we heard about the track day we decided on the spur of the moment to give the car a try,” said Rob Green, managing member of RGM. “It is good for 320 km/h and a 0 – 100 of around four seconds but it also exceeded our expectations around Kyalami, confirming the integrity of our workmanship.”
 
A feature of the car is the charge-cooled and centrifugally-driven supercharger, which uses a heat-exchanger with a separate cooling system to lower the temperature of the intake air before it enters the engine. This, along with the management of engine electronics via a sophisticated piggy-back computer, enables the powerplant to cope with the dramatic increase in power and torque.
 
For more on RGM and what it has to offer owners of BMWs and other fine vehicles, visit www.rgmotorsport.com, email info@rgmotorsport.co.za or phone 011 792 8352 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              011 792 8352      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. For sales enquiries after hours contact  Reghard Roets on 082 324 8232 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              082 324 8232      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  or Alan Fine on 084 484 6770 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              084 484 6770      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.