BMW Z4: Dominate Hillclimbs with Nascar Power

An American Dream Across Borders

BMW Z4 With a Nascar Conversion

Motorsports events all around the world commonly have a BMW vehicle present amongst the racers, and in most cases it has been modified to some degree. However, one person was not satisfied with simply spicing up their BMW with turbocharging alone. This is what you can watch for yourself in the video provided above!

Introducing Jimmy Giannoccaro, the proprietor of G&H Transport situated in South Africa. Having previously participated in racing events in Zambia, he has achieved both monetary wealth and a noteworthy history. His new invention – a BMW Z4 powered by a NASCAR V8 engine – is perfectly illustrating his creativity and resourcefulness.

In the beginning of it all, a second-hand 5.7-liter Nascar engine, about a decade old, was sent across the seas from the U.S. to South Africa. It was then clumsily forced into the BMW’s motor compartment. Unfortunately, despite the effort, the car proved to be a failure last year. In order to avoid that happening again, they went back to the basics for this year’s Knysna Simola Hillclimb, an occasion highly esteemed as South African’s chief motorsport festivity.

Among the changes, the US edition of the Z4 was given a sequential transmission that transfers power to its back wheels utilizing a drivetrain from a BMW M5. Moreover, it had carburetors swapped to fuel injection, which presented a considerable difficulty but was eventually successful, and its brakes were reinforced by an AP Racing system equipping 15-inch diameter (380-mm) discs on all four corners.

But wait, there’s more. The hillclimb vehicle was also fitted out with luxurious features like a traction control system, ABS brakes, and launch control; all of which were absent just last year.

The 5.7-liter Hendrick Motorsports powerplant is located behind the front wheels, thus transforming the German coupe into a quasi-front mid-engine vehicle, and can propel up to 10,000 revolutions per minute, yet as Giannoccaro has mentioned, the Z4 presently tops off at 7,500 rpm, with an optimal target of 9,000 rpm in the near future.

At present, the automobile generates approximately 590 horsepower as well as 468 pound-feet (635 Newton-meters) of torque, which the owner declares is quite impressive for a naturally aspirated racing car.

In regards to aesthetics, the South African team imported an original GT3 body kit hailing from Germany, making Giannoccaro’s Z4 the first of its kind in the country. It certainly is a bizarre creation, so please take a moment to watch the video above and then leave us your opinion in the comment section below!

Source: Cars.co.za (YouTube)