Inside, lightweight Alcantara racing seats ensure your body can withstand 1.5G of lateral acceleration without depositing you on your passengers lap. The svelte door cards found in your stock E46 M3 have been superseded by smart carbon fibre panels, even the rear passenger seats have been on the Atkinson diet.

This pre-weigh-in crash diet continues with the expected levels of Bavarian severity. Aluminium formed bonnet, thinner rear glass, aviation grade thermoplastic bumpers, less sound deadening, and in a first of its kind application, a carbon fibre roof panel – adding rigidity and bringing the centre of gravity closer to the tarmac. Combined, these modifications shave 110kg off the curb weight -not too shabby.

Steering improvements courtesy of the CSL’s higher gear steering ratio of 14.5:1 (vs 15.4:1 standard)  means not just a tighter turning circle but a faster response when attacking the corners, paired with a revised spring set-up and modified settings on the Sachs dampers, lowering the car by a further 10mm, thicker anti-roll bars and lighter aluminium front and rear lower control arms.