This winter, R44 Performance took to mainland Europe for one of the most iconic automotive events on the calendar - the Ice Race. Leaving our London HQ before sunrise, we pointed our modified BMW G90 M5 towards Austria and munched the miles in BMW's flagship saloon.
From London HQ to the Ice Race - Europe, Covered Properly
With winter tyres fitted, suspension raised, and alignment dialled in for long-distance comfort, the G90 M5 proved exactly why it sits at the top of BMW’s modern performance line-up. Hours of motorway driving across France and Germany disappeared effortlessly, with Driving Assistant Pro making the journey as easy as it was quick. Even while travelling, the team stayed connected to HQ - managing orders, refining catalogues, and continuing the day-to-day work of running a BMW parts company that never really switches off.
Munich: BMW at the Source
Before crossing into Austria, we stopped in Munich - the heart of BMW. A morning at the BMW Museum set the tone for the trip, offering a reminder of the heritage and innovation that underpins everything we work with day-to-day. From breakfast inside BMW Welt to walking through the museum itself, it's a stop we'd recommend before heading deeper into the Alps.
Ice, Cars, and Community
Austria delivered exactly what you’d expect, and more. From ice drifting sessions with Apollo Racing to running into familiar faces from across Europe and beyond, the Ice Race felt less like a show and more like a gathering of people who genuinely live and breathe cars. This is likely due to it not being your typical public event. Photographers, drivers, creators, and engineers all in one place, sharing the same frozen playground.
Our G90 M5 was slid and properly used. While its size and hybrid systems make it a very different experience from lighter, older M cars on ice, it still delivered huge presence and capability. It handled long motorway stints, alpine roads, and ice sessions without missing a beat.
Inevitably, a few battle scars appeared along the way thanks to a certain Becky Evans, but that’s part of using cars properly. When cars become too precious, you really stop enjoying them - the thing M cars were built for.
More Than an Event
The Ice Race itself is difficult to explain unless you’ve been. Classic machinery running alongside modern icons, automotive fashion brands blending with OEMs, and a crowd that truly understands why cars matter. There are some crazy individuals sliding around some serious "investment"-grade cars like a Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale and more.
A Worldwide Brand, Not Just a UK One
This trip summed up exactly where R44 Performance stands today. We’re not UK-only. We’re really about driving and enjoying cars more than anything, and we want nothing more than to support you in doing the same.
