Viral IShowSpeed clip sparks race row after German car dealer refuses to let YouTuber test drive $75k sports car

A viral clip of YouTube sensation IShowSpeed being refused a test drive for a $75,000 car in Germany has sparked a race row on social media.

IShowSpeed, real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr, shared a video to his 10.5 million subscribers on YouTube documenting his recent trip to the Nürburgring Driving Academy – a motorsports complex in Nürburg.

At one stage of the video, the 19-year-old stumbles across a roofless sports car which is up for sale at the complex and begins playing around with the steering wheel.

A German car dealer then approaches in a panic as Speed quickly backs away asking: ‘Is this yours?’

After apologizing for touching his vehicle, he then says: ‘I can buy this?’

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‘If you can,’ the dealer replies.

Speed then asks how many miles are on the car before he is told to read the advertisement sign attached to it.

‘I’m being serious,’ the online personality insists. ‘I’m just interested in buying this car. Is it street legal?’

After the owner points out the license plate on the front of the car, Speed says: ‘Yo this guy’s an a**hole…’

He then clarifies that the sports car is priced at a whopping $75,000 before asking to take it for a test drive.

However, that enquiry is immediately shut down as the dealer shakes his head and refuses a test drive of the vehicle.

‘How much did you buy this for?’ Speed then continues.

‘I think we stop here,’ the frustrated dealer tells him.

‘Bro I’m not trolling,’ Speed replies. ‘I’m serious! I’ve got the money. Why do you think I’m not serious?’

The dealer then ignores another question about the original cost of his car and  shakes his head to confirm he doesn’t want to sell it to him.

Speed’s bizarre interaction in Nurburg has caused outrage online, with several users alleging that he was only denied a test drive by the dealer due to racism given he claimed to have the money to purchase the car.

One wrote on X: ‘It’s not even about the car or the money. The German clown is racist. Period.’

Another posted: ‘This is just ludicrous. What a nonsensical businessman. Very rude’.

A third commented: ‘I don’t think it was about the money’.

‘Racially motivated’ said another.

A fifth put: ‘He should’ve bought both of the cars next to him to show that guy who was boss. Infuriating how that guy acted.’

While one posted a photo of the dealer and said: ‘I smell racism in the air’.

Others, however, pointed to both Speed’s behavior prior to the interaction – which even saw him jump down on all fours and bark at a dog on the floor – and the cameras in the dealer’s face as a reason for him to be suspicious.

One user posted: ‘To be fair. If this interaction would have happened without a camera being present would the same interaction have happened? Maybe so but the filming might have made the man suspicious. Just a “what if” question.’

Another put: ‘ngl [not gonna lie]. Speed looks like a very unserious person’.

A third said: ‘I mean at first watch it seems like the seller is being unfair but if you consider that he had been memeing around the car meetup and putting on a show, its a legitimate concern to not take him seriously for a transaction. 

‘I like Speed but its clear this dude doesn’t take him [seriously]’.

While a fourth wrote: ‘I’m sure Him going into the car and touching it without the owner present didn’t help much. After that the seller was turned off. Green is the only color salesmen care about. Unless your rude.’