How does a LeMans Winning Driver Handle Nurburgring in a BMW 1M?

This is one part of our Germany trip recently. We started our morning at Nurburgring with a hot lap in a track prepped BMW 1M making around 450hp and piloted by Marco Werner. Marco has won in LMP1 cars at Le Mans, Sebring, Daytona and many other famous endurance races globally. He has driven Nordschleife more than 1,000 times and knows every inch of the road.
I had the privilege of sitting in the passenger seat as Marco took me for a hot lap and talked me through the turns and challenges that make this road possibly the most famous and challenging road on the planet.
Sit back and enjoy the ride!!
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Thanks for watching and help spread the word by telling your friends to check out AutotopiaLA! New episode every Tuesday and Friday at 5 pm (pst).

[@katsooba]

Are we just going to ignore the fact that it is not a 1M? But a 135i?

[@AutotopiaLA]

A few people caught that and informed me. Not bad at 450 hp with massive upgrades though (suspension, caged, brakes, etc)

[@katsooba]

@@AutotopiaLA Not bad at all:-)

[@alvaro4k]

I came to the comments to check to see if anyone had commented this.

[@willohwhite2372]

I've seen so many videos of the Nordschleife that I wasn't expecting anything new, but this is the first time I kept catching myself grinning like an idiot through the whole thing. Thanks to both of you for sharing!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Awesome!! I smiled and laughed a lot as Marco was chill and ripping

[@ScramTek]

A definite ride of a lifetime! A few of us are decent drivers. But there’s a vast difference between even a good driver and someone like this. It’s truly hard to conceive of how much faster they’re able to push a car until you’ve experienced it as a passenger! Kudos for not enjoying the experience and not shitting yourself. Most people would be petrified 😁

[@AutotopiaLA]

Riding with Marco at Nurburgring was truly incredible! Huge gap between most of us and a pro driver

[@1MCS]

1M? That's a 135i 😅 But non the less.. most beautiful car series 🔥❤️

[@135ikid6]

c l o s e d yay thank u :)

[@musclecarczarig4003]

Thanks for bringing us with you. Early morning hotlap with an almost empty track...can't get much better than that! Check that one off the bucket list!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Bigtime bucket list knocked off. Marco was so cool while moving at a serious pace

[@jonathangalloway6796]

Absolutely fantastic brother!! You looked the happiest and the most frightened all in one video 😂 ✌️ 👌 👌 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

[@AutotopiaLA]

I was...both simultaneously!

[@abwjr426]

I’m so happy for you, Shawn. What a fantastic video...so enjoyable watching your reactions. I can only imagine!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks. It was such an incredible ride!

[@abwjr426]

AutotopiaLA Shawn, any plans for Autotopia merch?

[@AutotopiaLA]

abwjr426 yes. Soon. Hoping in the next couple of months to get our first shirts and hats going

[@Chong1975]

Wow. Thanks for sharing this with us dude!

[@AutotopiaLA]

You’re welcome. It was such a mind boggling trip

[@jameshutchins3396]

Bucket list indeed, what a blessing

[@pablocruise678]

Truly bucket list material!! HOLY S! Good for you!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Serious bucket list stuff!

[@rodcognito002]

So happy for you. I cant imagine a bucket list item.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Total bucket list! Was incredible to experience.

[@ferper23]

Wooooo !! Cant wait for more footage men !! Thank you !

[@AutotopiaLA]

More to come on Tuesday and Friday. We shot a ton of cool footage!

[@ferper23]

@@AutotopiaLA thank you ! Ill be there hehe

[@joaomagro7299]

That guy is like a guide in a museum, crazy! 😱

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s an incredible driver. Cool, calm while going edge of tires speed the entire time

[@christophermarechal5017]

Hell yeah, what a ride, impressive for sure🏁

[@AutotopiaLA]

Mind blowing ride as you know

[@muigaulwurf]

Awesiome experience! i liked how you did the split screen

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks! It was such a fun ride. Paul did this edit and I agree...split screen is cool af

[@JnixMarshel]

Badass man. What an experience that must have been. Thanks for sharing brother.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Glad you liked it. Was a total mind blowing experience!

[@captainsuburbia8956]

Vicious track day coming soon? This was a fun video. Keep up the good work.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Sure hope so. Been really wanting to get it out on the track and see how it performs

[@tighematthew]

There are some epic Awesome people is this world and he is one. 👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

Marco is awesome!!

[@Miatacrosser]

Man I can tell the moment you recognized where you were on the track. But later your expressions were great as you recognized many parts of the first section. Like all of us we've seen this track countless times in video games. But I had the priviledge to drive the 'Ring in 1970...it looked a lot different then. At 4:06 is where my father parted from the track. He was gonna show us kids what real racing was and had no idea what lie at the end of that uphill straight. Luckily back then you went straight into a big dirt area instead of into an Armco barrier and the crowd loved you for entertaining them😅 Also got to drive the now gone Sud circuit. It cost 10 German Marks for two laps...you entered and exited from the pits on the start/finish straight and could run as many laps as you paid for consecutively. First lap we drove the Grand Prix circuit, second we combined both the North and South circuits for the almost 20 miles of fun. Have many pics of what it looked like back then. Even stayed overnight at the track hotel. Seems so long ago but I'll never forget it. My parents we'ren't planning this on the trip and my brother and I talked them into it...my dad thanked me years later for doing that he knew what it meant to me since his son spent his whole life in motorsports. This was really great Shawn...really happy you got to see the track at speed

[@SoulofMachine]

Loved this!! Wow! One day i will get there! Thx for sharing!

[@ChristopherTrott]

I've been to Germany a few times (my parents are German) I should go see this!

[@unlimitedoutdoors3307]

I had a hard time splitting the screen, because I wanted to really see the track, but also your expression compared to his calmness; lol. I do wish you could have displayed the speeds you were running. Overall an awesome show!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks! Did my best shooting all myself. Usually Paul would be handling everything. Yeah, he’s so chill and I’m all over the place!

[@petermavraganis2933]

What an experience man!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Incredible. Not to mention driving the 911R on the GP track...holy shit!!

[@Mattmazz77]

It's crazy how calm he was almost like he was driving to the store or something 😂

[@AutotopiaLA]

Yeah. He’s done this drive a few times. Like he’s just cruising.

[@steved2008]

I’ve never seen so many facial expressions in one video, brilliant, well done, hope you had some good German beer afterwards 😎🇩🇪🍺

[@AutotopiaLA]

German beer. Martinis. Food. It was such an incredible ride and this was just the morning! The rest of the day was at the GP track in GT3 cars. Awesome!!

[@killuminaty187]

Please change the title. This is not a 1M, this is a 135i. I have the exact same alpine white 135i N54, with the carbon spoiler. The 1M and the 135i (2007-2010) have the same N54 engine with Biturbo, which you can tune up to 480 HP using the stock Biturbo and up to 650HP using a different Turbo. Everything above 650HP you need to strengthen the engine interiors. The 135i N55 (2010-2013) has a Single scroll Turbo.

[@AutotopiaLA]

I hear you but this car was set up as a 1m. Suspension, engine, etc.

[@lsvip1820]

Damn bro your face 😂 what a experience !!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Right?? It was such an incredible ride!

[@bzmaro]

So freaking rad man!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Insanity!! Was awesome 👏

[@Zeracho]

Cool car looked fun. Not a 1M though. I could be wrong but don't think I am.

[@AutotopiaLA]

It’s definitely a 1M. With a bit more power, suspension, cage, seats, etc. The carbon hood looks so cool against the white. Def a 1M

[@ninpotv6721]

@@AutotopiaLAThat is a 135i at best. The 1M coupè has a completely different chassis. The front aswell as the back fenders are much wider on a 1M, that's something you can not easily change.

[@TEAMSTEAM4LIFE]

AutotopiaLA Not a 1m

[@charliestavro2843]

Wow, that's awesome!

[@AutotopiaLA]

It was such an intensely cool ride

[@charliestavro2843]

@@AutotopiaLA I bet! Bucket list shit there brother

[@TheReaperGT]

I've spoted Misha's SQ2 at the end.. haha. You should drop by Apex Nürburg... The guys have some track weapons to rent and taxi on. :D This is my life dream, have some laps and watch the N24 race live. :D

[@AutotopiaLA]

Next time I’m there I’ll have to check out Apex

[@fantasticbarry5331]

Awesome

[@AutotopiaLA]

👊

[@JasonSmith-rq6sj]

Awsome!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks 👊

[@MarMPB]

Looks like a kid in the best toy store ever! 😃

[@AutotopiaLA]

Absolutely. That’s what I felt like our whole week with Chrome Cars

[@sickjohnson]

Wicked!!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Such an intense ride!

[@jayvkman]

So about 8:30 bridge to gantry, that’s not a hot lap. I’m far from an LMP driver and I even did 8:30 in my stock 1M on worn Michelin PS2 tires. The driver is just cruising around. I’d expected this prepped car with 100hp more, track tires, big brakes and stiffer suspension to do under 8:00 BTG easily.

[@jayvkman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/anfOqJJpr56hkLc Checkout this amateur 1M driver do it in 7:45!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

I get it and I doubt Marco was going anywhere near as fast as he could. Check his history. Very successful driver. Especially here.

[@andreagate542]

great vid!! where can i view the spec of the great track tool? many thxs

[@andreagate542]

Great vid. Any specs on the car??!!!!

[@eslameddinghalebi1]

How different is the chassis or control of the car compared to the hatchback

[@blackbeard308]

Shit looks so mesmerizing it's awesome

[@AutotopiaLA]

Unbelievable!

[@unluckeeeee]

Surprised it did'nt go in to mode being an N54

[@jb2oldies69]

Hell ya bro 👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

Woohoo!!!

[@allensaunders449]

Nice hopefully you will get a ride or a drive in a more powerful car too

[@AutotopiaLA]

After this we went to the GP track and I drove a 911R GT3 car and got a ride in the Vantage V12 GT3 car. Intense!

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Stupid 1M cars. When they came out I thought no way would they be popular. They are now the hardest M cars to buy...good to see one run with a skilled driver

[@AutotopiaLA]

Couldn’t believe how strong that little car is. Just awesome!

[@tmr626]

Hey Shawn, how many German beers did you need to cool down? HEE! HEE!

[@AutotopiaLA]

It took a minute to come down from that ride

[@2052lt]

BTW it's a 135i, not a 1M ....

[@AutotopiaLA]

So I’ve been told

[@runslaTe]

balls to the wall flat out

[@AutotopiaLA]

Without any effort is the way he made it look too

[@JasonSmith-rq6sj]

Fucking man can drive!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Seriously! Look him up sometime. Marco Werner. He’s won a lot of major races in LMP1 cars

[@vonwaffen]

no helmet on a race track wow :)

[@AutotopiaLA]

vonwaffen street cars only. Since Marco didn’t wear one I went with it

[@oempluse822]

it would be so much cooler if you found the guy in LA that s65 swapped his 135i because it atleast has an "m" engine plus he has a dinan stroker kit in it. now i know thats not really a 1m but its sure as hell closer to it than this car.

[@rediah5494]

Its a 135i

[@AutotopiaLA]

Yep

[@GuardianMB]

Tja ming Jung, "Deutsche Wertarbeit"

[@45crazykid]

This is a 135 and not a 1M

[@nelsonlu5878]

That's not a 1m

[@AutotopiaLA]

Someone else said that. Weird. It says 1M. The owner said it’s a 1M. What’s the giveaway?

[@nelsonlu5878]

@@AutotopiaLA single exhaust exit, and not real widebody. It's still an amazing car, especially when he can take it up the limit on those narrow tires. Insane driving

[@The_Inspiration_86]

Clearly u don't know which curbs to avoid when u said "So u can hit da curbs" smfh.😔

[@AutotopiaLA]

I was told by a friend to not hit the curbs so was happily surprised to seem him banging some of them

[@davidviner4932]

My granny could drive faster