The BMW M5 is a thoroughbred, designed to dominate on the track as much as it commands the road. But here's the twist: almost no M5 owners actually take their cars to a race circuit. And those who do? They almost never return. 

That's the surprising insight from Daniela Schmid, M5 product manager at BMW, speaking to Romanian magazine *Autocritica*. "For M5 customers, we know that only a very small percentage actually drive on the circuit, and even then, they might only do it once," she explains. "Hardly anyone does it regularly."

It’s a bit of a shame, really. Here’s a car that’s built to push the limits — with all that engineering brilliance and track-ready capability — and yet most owners will never feel the G-forces tugging at their seatbelts through a tight corner or hear the roar of the V8 bouncing off pit walls. We doff our caps to the few who at least give it a go once, though.

Yet, BMW insists the M5 has to remain circuit-capable, even if the majority of its owners won't go near a track. "It's crucial that any M model is at home on a circuit," Schmid says. "If customers want to take it there, they can do so without any issues. But the car’s potential also shines in everyday driving. That's why we maintain the requirement that the M5 can be used on the track, even though we know most customers won't."

As for who’s buying these powerhouses, the customer profile isn’t exactly surprising: it’s predominantly middle-aged men — entrepreneurs or executives who've already had a taste of the M life with cars like the M3 or M4, and are now ready to step up to the big leagues. "We also have female customers, but most are men who want an M5 as they get older," Schmid adds.

However, things are evolving. "In the last 20 years, the average age of the M5 buyer has dropped, particularly due to the Asian markets," Schmid notes. "In Asia, there’s a shift happening — a lot of young people in IT and software with serious cash at a young age. Many have been to the US or Europe, got hooked on the M range, and now they’re bringing that passion back home."

So, while the M5 remains a precision tool for the track, most owners will never see the redline on anything other than a highway on-ramp. But as long as BMW keeps building cars like this, that option will always be there — for the rare moments when owners decide to unleash their inner racer.