BMW Sauber F1 team driver, Jacques Villeneuve checks out the one of the BMW supplied Safety Course Cars for the Australian Grand Prix

The super lightweight BMW M6 Coupé hits the track running as the official Course Car for the supporting races at the 2006 FORMULA 1 ™ Foster's Australian Grand Prix.

The scintillating M6, with its 373 kW V10 engine and seven-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox will get pulses racing with its bold power, distinctive styling and bellowing engine note, as it chases around the 5.3 km Albert Park circuit.

The Course Car’s primary function is to lap the track between each supporting race to ensure there is no debris or obstruction on the circuit.

The M6 Coupé was the perfect choice – eye-catching and fast enough to lap the track in record time so there’s minimal delay between events.

Not for the faint-hearted, the 5.0-litre, 40-valve V10 engine sprints the M6 from rest to 100 km/h in a blindingly fast 4.6 seconds. It has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The BMW M6 is a comprehensively re-engineered version of the successful 6 Series Coupé, previously seen as the Course Car in 2004 and 2005.

With its Motorsport-developed engine, transmission, differential, brakes and suspension package, the M6 provides an even more race car-like driving experience for the Albert Park officials.

The M6 is not only fast and furious; it is also extremely luxurious and striking. Its 19-inch alloy wheels, aggressive front spoiler, side skirts and rear apron packed with quad exhaust pipes, ensure the muscular message is not missed.

It is equipped with the latest BMW technology including the three-stage Electronic Damper Control, and M Power mode. This allows drivers to select from two power outputs – the full 373 kW or a more general-use 294 kW, simply by pressing a button next to the SMG selector.

Available in extremely limited number, the ultra-fast, ultra-exclusive BMW M6 Coupé will undoubtedly be one of the key BMW attractions of the 2006 FORMULA 1 ™ Foster’s Australian Grand Prix weekend.

As the official supplier of course cars, a selection of delectable high-performance BMW vehicles will be in use including the V10-powered M5 Sedan, V8 powered 550i Sedan and several 7 Series limousines.

BMW also has 26 well-known faces from sport and media competing in the annual BMW Celebrity Challenge, driving the latest BMW 120i five-door sports compact. In addition, the famed Brazilian Senna family name returns to motorsport, when Bruno Senna (nephew of the late Ayrton Senna, takes the wheel of a BMW M3 for the M3 Track Attack.

Of course, all eyes will be on the new BMW Sauber F1 team when drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Nick Heidfeld take to the grid for the 58-lap main event on Sunday afternoon.

In all a fabulous spectacle of BMW dynamism is guaranteed to keep motorsports fans’ eyes glued to the track or TV screen.

© Copyright 2006 Driveguide.com.au

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