Here’s a fun little factoid: if you look at the cumulative cost of this year’s top two, you can have 12 BMW M2 Pures, and still have enough cash left over for a lifetime of track days. Thing is, you only need one M2.

The M2 Pure represents a true return to form for the Haus of M, and a real homage to the cars that kicked the brand off. Its relative lack of size when compared to its M3 and M4 stablemates, a long, flat torque curve that makes its turbo motor feel almost nat-atmo and its flat, wide stance combines with a deliberate policy of dismissing extraneous fluff to produce a car that is truly a rare thing.

BMW M2 Pcoty rear

In the midst of the hottest PCOTY field of all time, the M2’s performance across the week is nothing short of stellar. Its hit out on the first day at DECA showed more than one judge that this sub-$100K coupe with the mug-lair front bar and concept-car wheels is more than the sum of its parts.

Sure, it won the tyre lottery at a soaking Winton, but it still managed to show more than a few of its rivals how steering should actually work – a trait made even more remarkable by the fact that the front end of both the M3 and M4 are far from favourites in the MOTOR office.

BMW M2 interior

It was in the hills around Marysville, though, that the M2’s place in the PCOTY pecking order was cemented. On a long, sinuous set of perfectly manicured bends with the sweetest camber imaginable, I set out after the M2 in the 488 GTB – and I could not believe just how easily the BMW managed to keep its nose in front. Where the Ferrari’s massively stiff chassis and sharp manners meant frightening yourself silly keeping corner speeds up, the M2 just keyed into the terrain and bolted for the hills.

BMW M2 front

THE NUMBERS 0-100km/h: 4.55sec (7th) 0-400m: 12.82sec @ 175.82km/h (8th)

BMW M2 track driving

DYLAN CAMPBELL: =5th Fun-loving baby M car makes its big brother M4 feel a little too serious.

SCOTT NEWMAN: 6th So capable in every area; a bargain for what it offers.

TIM ROBSON: =3rd A return to form for BMW M, and for rear-drivers in general.

JOHN BOWE: 2nd The best value sporty BMW on the market.

judges scores
1