V-Ten Commandments

PITSTOP

To get from Aachen to Zwickau, most enthusiast businessmen in Germany, for over 20 years, took only one express to travel in, the BMW M5. Now, at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW has unveiled an epic Concept M5. And it is as audacious as it gets.

For the first time, an M5 gets a massive V10 engine. Now where have you heard of a BMW V10? We'll give you a little clue. Ralf and Montoya swear by it.

Yes, BMW has taken the V10 from their F1 car and plonked it into the 5-series. Developing a whopping 500 bhp and over 50 kgm of torque, the Concept M5 is capable of attaining 100 kph well inside five seconds.

This high-tech V10 gets a specially modified Bi-Vanos camshaft timing, individual throttle butterflies and engine electronics borrowed from the BMW Williams F1 machine.

Even the gearbox too is F1-derived, it's a seven-speed sequential manual unit. The Concept M5 stands apart from the standard 5-series thanks to its modified front and rear air dams, side sills, side vents and of course, four tailpipes.

This monster also gets specially designed M alloys wheels and high performance rubber. BMW says that for the moment it remains a concept, but a production version of the Concept M5 can be made available in a year.

Sportscraftmanship
The Gulf Dirt Track Challenge in Delhi, held exactly two weeks back, was a special event for Sportscraft, the Mumbai-based pioneers of motorsport action in the country "� it was their 200th event.

It all started with the one-off McDowell Vintage Car Rally in Lonavla, near Mumbai, in January 1984.

Since then, Sportscraft have organised virtually all sorts of motorsport events in India, from Gymkhana races to autocross and rallies for bikes and cars, and encompassing rallies for the blind, dirt track racing, go-kart racing, etc.

In fact, Sportscraft has been co-ordinating the JK Tyre National Karting Championship since 2001. They have also organised competitions for scooters, autorickshaws, rigs, trucks and even tractors.

One of their special events is the exciting Mahindra Great Escape, an off-beat drive which involves over 400 participants, 100 vehicles and tough terrain that includes the slippery sands of Rajasthan and the sticky mud of a monsoon-lashed Goa.

Business Standard Motoring congratulates the tireless Shrikant Karani and his team at Sportscraft for attaining this landmark figure, and looks forward to plenty of more motorsport action from them.