Gallery: Bimmerfest 2026 BMW Gathering

Bimmerfest is one of those events that does not need an introduction. Yet every year, it somehow manages to feel different. Maybe it’s the mix of cars, maybe it’s the people, or maybe it’s just the unpredictability that comes with spending a full day on the steep banking of Raceway Venray.

This year was no exception. Rolling into Venray with a camera in hand (and realistically, shoes that could handle that incline), it didn’t take long before the paddock filled up with everything the BMW world has to offer. From spotless classics to aggressively modified M cars and everything in between, the variety once again made it impossible to stand still for long.

Vorsteiner G87 M2 at Bimmerfest Europe 2026

Bimmerfest Europe is one of those events where I’m always surprised at the amount of cars. But there are always cars that stand out between the usual crowd of modified Bavarians. Walking past the rows of G-series M cars, something about this G87 M2 just felt… different. It wasn’t shouting for attention, but the color and stance pulled me in. I ended up having a chat with the owner, Nigel, who had driven all the way from the UK to be at Bimmerfest.

The car itself is a 2023 BMW M2, built by Regal Autosport in Southampton. What really sets it apart is the full Vorsteiner VRS carbon fibre aero kit. Fitted by Kustom Kolors in Christchurch and imported from California in 2024, this could very well be the only fully VRS-kitted G87 in Europe right now.

BMW X5 V12 Le Mans: The Ultimate Spassmobil

The BMW X5 V12 Le Mans is one of those rare, wonderful moments when a carmaker momentarily forgets about accountants, regulations, and common sense, and instead asks a far more entertaining question: “What if we shoved a Le Mans–winning racing engine into an SUV?” When I saw the X5 Le Mans during my last visit to the Pace Museum by JP Performance in Dortmund, it felt almost unreal to be standing in front of something so unapologetically absurd.

Built around the turn of the millennium, the E53 X5 V12 Le Mans, was never intended as a production model. It was a one-off experiment, a celebratory engineering flex created after BMW’s 1999 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the V12 LMR prototype. To mark the occasion, a handful of BMW’s most mischievous engineers decided to repurpose the heart of the race-winner: a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. But unlike the race car, which had to breathe through air restrictors, this engine was allowed to inhale freely. The result was more than 700 horsepower in an era when supercars were still struggling to reach that number.

That colossal engine sat inside the shell of the first-generation X5, but this was no ordinary family hauler. The suspension was heavily reworked, the interior stripped down and fitted with a roll cage, and the hood reshaped in carbon fibre to clear the V12’s intake system. It retained a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive, making it perhaps the most spectacularly overpowered manual SUV ever created.

Gallery: Ultrace Düsseldorf Germany 2026

If you haven’t heard of Ultrace, you might be living under a rock. The event has become the place in Europe to see the best of the best. Yet calling it just a car event doesn’t do it justice. Ultrace has grown into a full‑blown automotive experience, complete with art installations and even a nighttime program with DJs.

This year marked a big shift. For the first time, Ultrace stepped outside its birthplace in Poland. The team decided it was time for a new adventure, and they landed in Düsseldorf, Germany. That meant no more nine‑hour drive for me. Instead, I only had to travel 1.5 hours to reach the venue: Areal Böhler.

Gallery: Risenation Hall of Fame 2026

Risenation marks the unofficial start for my show season. It’s always the first taste of what the rest of the year might bring. This year was no different. Bag packed, snacks secured, I punched Mechelen, Belgium into Google Maps, fired up the car, and set off. Two and a half hours later, the Nekkerhal appeared like a giant half tube with holes in it. If you have ever been there you know what I mean.

Before I even think about taking the camera out, I make a few reconnaissance laps. This year, however, the organisers decided to funnel everyone through a vendor corridor at the entrance. Great for anyone selling stickers, detailing sprays, or T‑shirts you don’t need… but less great if you simply wanted to get on with the show. Still, minor grumble aside, the rest was brilliant. Familiar faces, new conversations, and cars that made you stop mid‑stride, this show had the full package.

Track‑Ready BMW E36 With M4 S55 Power

Walking through the Tuning Experience hall at the Essen Motor Show, you expect to see wild builds, but every now and then something stops you dead in your tracks. Did you catch my take on this year’s event? If not, you can still check it out on the Turnpike Global site.

Among the wild show cars and slammed stances sat a machine that looked like it had been teleported straight from the Nürburgring paddock: a 1996 BMW E36, reborn with the heart of an M4 and the soul of a race car.

This isn’t just an engine swap; it’s a complete transformation. Under the bonnet lies BMW’s S55B30 straight-six from the F82 M4, paired with its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Team Schirmer’s fingerprints are everywhere: engine mounts, transmission crossmember, and a rear axle housing a Drexler limited-slip differential with 45% lock and dedicated cooling. The numbers speak for themselves: 431 horsepower pushing just 1,270 kilograms. That’s serious firepower.

BMW E46 M3: Phoenix Rising

Few cars distil the joy of driving quite like the BMW E46 M3, and seeing this Phoenix Yellow example in the metal at the Essen Motor Show only reinforced its legend. Surrounded by wild show cars and modern exotica, it stood out by doing something far more difficult: being tasteful. This is OEM+ philosophy executed with restraint, confidence and a deep understanding of what made the E46 so special in the first place.

Under the bonnet sits BMW’s revered S54 straight-six, producing 333hp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It remains one of the greatest naturally aspirated engines ever fitted to a road car, delivering its performance with razor-sharp throttle response and a spine-tingling soundtrack that modern turbo units can only dream of replicating. This is the beating heart of the car, and it needs no reinvention.

The stance has been subtly modernised with an Airlift Performance air suspension system using 3P management. Crucially, it’s set up with predefined pressure limits rather than extreme lowering, preserving drivability and protecting the chassis. Beneath the skin, Powerflex bushings and adjustable rear arms sharpen the handling, while a Supersprint stainless steel race system with twin 80mm tips ensures the car sounds every bit as serious as it looks.

The first BMW Art Car by Alexander Calder

Yes I know, yet another BMW, but you don’t often get the chance to see BMW’s legendary Art Cars all in one place. But lo and behold, The Louwman Museum in The Hague pulled off the impossible. Nine of these automotive icons, side by side, including the one that started it all: Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL.

Imagine this: it’s 1975. Disco is booming, flared trousers are a thing, and BMW is about to do something completely bonkers. They hand over one of their most powerful race cars at the time, the BMW 3.0 CSL, to an artist. And not just any artist but Alexander Calder, the man who made mobiles dance in the wind and colors explode like fireworks.

Hervé Poulain, a French auctioneer with a passion for motorsport and modern art brought the artist and BMW together. Now, Calder didn’t just slap a few stripes on the bonnet and call it a day. No, he turned the car into a rolling canvas. Bright reds, yellows, blues, his signature palette, flowed over the bodywork like a rainbow on steroids. It was bold. It was brash. It was beautiful. And it was fast.