There are only 1,000 BMW M4 CSLs meant for this world, making them rare for many of us crazy and car enthusiasts out there. Luckily, the folks from Sport Auto, a German magazine, got one for a track day at the Hockenheimring. And more importantly, it was a track day meant to compare the most hardcore BMW M4 to another German sports car, the Porsche 911 GT3.
The BMW M4 CSL and Porsche 911 GT3 are both powerful German engines, but which of them is faster under the hands of the same test driver on the same track?
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The BMW M4 CSL is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine. With boost pressure increased from 24.7 to 30.5 psi, the M4 CSL 40 horsepower more than the BMW M4 Competition with a total power output of 543 horsepower (404 kilowatts) and 479 pound-feet (640 Newton-meters) of torque. While those numbers are pretty healthy, a recent dyno test found that the high-powered coupe could make even more.
Meanwhile, the Porsche 911 GT3, which is powered by a 4.0-liter flat-six engine, produces less power than the M4 CSL at 503 hp (375 kW) and 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) of torque.
However, despite the weight savings used on the M4 CSL, it is heavier than the 911 GT3, with the BMW weighing in at 3,583 pounds (1,625 kilograms) and the Porsche reaching 3,164 lbs (1,435 kg) when equipped with the PDK.
Beyond these numbers, of course, there are many factors to consider when comparing the two on the track, such as suspension, chassis stiffness, transmission, and others. Driver skill is also important and in this case, Sport Auto put Christian Gebhardt at the wheel of both cars.
Under Gebhardt’s command, the BMW M4 CSL completed the 2.8-mile (4.6-kilometer) circuit in 1 minute 50.1 seconds. However, the Porsche 911 GT3 was faster, completing the lap in 1 minute 47.8 seconds.
