Our latest BMW Track Day at Donington Park was our most successful event yet, hosted from our own row of pit garages. We set up dedicated hospitality for all R44 customers, with food, drinks, shade and seating available throughout the day. Alongside that, we brought a range of BMW track-focused parts and upgrades so drivers could get hands-on with the products we use in our own builds — from brake pads and suspension components to racing steering wheels.
It was great to see so many familiar faces, along with plenty of new ones. And joining us for the day was Tom Wrigley from Tom Wrigley Performance — BMW tuner and GT4 racing driver — who not only mapped several of the cars on track but also gave plenty of passenger laps in our F80 M3 demo car throughout the day. His insights and experience added real value for customers looking to improve their track driving, but primarily, it was a lot of fun.
Track Conditions & Support
The weather stayed warm and dry all day — good news for grip levels, though some more standard cars felt the heat. Track Obsession ran an efficient open pit lane format, allowing for maximum seat time with minimal interruptions.
Standout Cars of the Day
Luke’s BMW F80 M3 Track Build
Luke, the man behind GeoByLuke, brought his own F80 M3 to the event — a car that’s not only his personal project, but also the benchmark for many of the geometry setups he does for our customer builds.
His car runs a Tom Wrigley Performance Stage 2 tune, pushing around 550bhp, and is fitted with catless downpipes and a single 3.5” midpipe for improved flow and sound. Handling is dialled in with BC Racing coilovers and Hardrace adjustable suspension arms, while cooling has been upgraded with a Mosselmann oil thermostat, Direnza charge cooler, and uprated chargepipes.
Inside, he’s running the JQ Werks racing steering wheel system, which allows for a more focused, functional feel during hot laps. The car ran reliably all day, setting a strong example of what a well-balanced F80 can do on track.
Nick’s BMW F82 M4 – GT4 Inspired Build
Nick — better known as Nick the Buffer — brought his Marina Bay Blue M4, which he transformed from a low-mileage, original spec car into a track-capable build inspired by the M4 GT4 racecar. Running a Stage 2 tune making around 530bhp, the car breathes through a single midpipe and benefits from BC Racing coilovers and uprated brake pads.
An SW Motorsports roll cage sits behind the seats, colour-matched to the Silverstone extended leather interior, which is a really subtle but nice touch. The exterior features a GT4-style carbon kit, adding both form and function. Nick also handled a few custom touches himself, including hand-painted BMW roundels — something he offers for many of his customers.
Imty’s Widebody BMW F22 M240i ‘Weapon’
Imty’s car started life as a crash-damaged F22 M240i, but after a full rebuild fully documented on his YouTube channel, it was one of the most unique and purpose-driven cars in the R44 track day line-up.
Power comes from a Bootmod3 Stage 2+ tune, supported by a TU fuel pump (shared with the later G42 M240i and Toyota GR Supra), a front-mount charge cooler, and a VRSF 4.5” catless downpipe. The car also features a Remus non-resonated cat-back system, producing that aggressive B58 noise we all love. The transmission has been recalibrated using an xHP gearbox tune, while the chassis has been comprehensively upgraded with F82 M4 control arms, H&R anti-roll bars, KW V3 coilovers, a limited-slip diff and more.
Braking is handled by an AP Racing big brake kit with braided lines. A Manhart-style widebody kit finishes the look, making the car instantly recognisable from social media. Not to mention the ‘Weapon’ number plate. It’s a car that showcases how much can be achieved with clear intent and attention to detail from a very capable BMW workshop.
Richard’s BMW F87 M2 Competition Track Build
Richard, owner of EAG Specialist Cars, brought his heavily upgraded M2 Competition — a car that delivers serious performance with zero road compromise.
Under the bonnet sits a 600whp setup based on Tom Wrigley's hybrid turbos and his Stage 2+ map, delivering the perfect amount of power for the track. To make sure the car could handle the extra power, it’s equipped with a Drexler limited-slip differential and AP Racing brakes.
Inside, the car features Sparco bucket seats and a SW Motorsports half cage and door cards for weight savings and improved safety.
Visually, it runs an MHC+ GT front splitter and Zunsport mesh grilles for radiator protection. The exhaust has been reworked with an equal-length midpipe with the cats in place to avoid getting black-flagged, and the car rolls on lightweight Pro Track wheels.
Nathan’s Manual-Swapped BMW E60 M5
Though not part of the R44 customer garage, I’m including this car because it was simply my own personal favourite.
Nathan’s E60 M5 was a standout for entirely different reasons. The car is completely stock aside from one major change: a manual gearbox swap. Originally never offered in the UK with a manual, this Silverstone Metallic V10 saloon is a rare sight — and a welcome one.
The 5.0-litre naturally aspirated S85 engine is an icon and is still impressive 20 years on. The car did begin to show signs of heat soak after a few hot laps, unsurprising given the warm weather and OEM cooling system, but it remained a firm favourite in the paddock. Nathan, a professional enduro rider, let me go out for a few laps with his dad, who sent us a bit sideways through the final corner. Despite no track modifications, the car performed exceptionally well. We hope to see you guys at a future event!
What’s Next?
Thanks to everyone who joined us — from long-time R44 customers to brands and partners. These days are all about enjoying BMWs and spending time with like-minded enthusiasts.
We’re back at it on 6th August at Snetterton for an evening session, followed by a full day at Anglesey on 24th August. Bookings are now open — we’ll see you there!
