Fastest man ... in a fast car

USAIN BOLT, the world's fastest man, touched the road yesterday with his BMW M3, one of the fastest cars in the world.

"It's a good combination, fast car, fast person," Bolt said of the car, purchased for his 22nd birthday by his sponsors, Puma.

BMW's M3 boasts a 4.0 litre V8 engine. It is a sports coupe with balance being the motivating force behind the design.

The roof, made of carbon-fibre, shaves 11 pounds from the top of the car and lowers its centre of gravity ... the suspension components were redesigned to take weight off the front end.

"Its all about speed. At track and field, we do it and we love it, so I am looking forward to taking it out now," Bolt said of his new drive.

In Beijing, a day after Bolt's breathtaking run of 19.30 to lower the 200m world record, Puma promised him a BMW M3 as a birthday gift.

The car, which arrived in the island recently from Germany, was handed over by Stewart Motors, the local dealers.

Asked why he chose a BMW M3, Bolt, who also strolled to a world record 100m run of 9.69, replied, "Because it's fast and I always wanted a BMW from I was young".

Bolt promised he would be extra careful on the roads.

"I am a very cautious person, I don't drive crazy and know how to handle myself on the road," he said.

Bolt also received three years of servicing for the vehicle from Stewart Motors, while Advantage General handed over a year of insurance coverage.