Comments on: BMW to Focus on Production Racing in 2010

By: roadkill

roadkill — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:10:35 +0000

Koni Challange had a couple Z4 in the series last year. They look and sound super. And since I have a Z4M coupe I love to see them run.

By: Micah

Micah — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:49:03 +0000

Thanks for information Michael. Given that customers can buy race cars, it is surprising how few BMW-prepped cars are racing in the US. I cannot recall seeing one in any US racing series beyond the two M3s in ALMS. There are of course BMWs in the Speed World Challenge Touring car class, but those are prepped in house. Perhaps BMW should consider a single make series like the GT3 Cup? Saw thes races at Miller this year — over 20 cars were entered, and the racing was close and exciting. And with the new Challenge class in ALMS, it would be great to see BMW-prepped, customer bought M3s and M Coupes racing the 911s that populate this class now.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:45:31 +0000

I got a chance to watch the Z4 race car in person and it has to be one of the best looking cars I’ve ever seen on the track. The addition of the width to the classic lines of the Z4 makes for on heck of a design and a quite potent racing package. Would love to bring one home for a new track toy.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:54:59 +0000

Michah- BMW has been building and selling customers production based race cars for the past several years.

Since 2006 the BMW 320si WTCC has successfully proven itself with the model having won four FIA World Touring Car Championship titles for BMW. To date over 60 racing kits have been supplied to BMW racing teams. The racing version of the BMW Z4 M Coupe, too, has proven successful, particularly in endurance events Racing kit versions of the BMW 120d, which is also mainly suited to endurance racing, have been on offer since March 2006.

In February 2009 BMW began offering a GT4 version of the E92 ///M3.The price for the ready-to-race car amounts to €120,000 (plus VAT). This car is the basis of the recently launch ///M3 GTS.

Basically, all those vehicles in the picture are available for customer purchase for racing use.

By: Micah

Micah — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:07:46 +0000

Great news indeed. Does this mean that BMW has plans to build and sell production-based race cars to individuals as Porsche does with 3 different versions of the 911? (a profit making operation for Porsche BTW)

By: roadkill

roadkill — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:52:31 +0000

Hey, racing we can see, up close and personal, at tracks like Sebring, Watkins Glen and Lime Rock. This is much better than F1 where we only get 1 shot in Montreal. My buddies and I like this a lot.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:49:09 +0000

Oh well, back to the hunt for a E86 M lol

By: James May

James May — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:17:20 +0000

X5m posted a time off 1.28.2 round the top gear track by the stig and he was over driving it like he dose with all BMW’S it was also a wet lap only a sec behind porsche gt3 on a damp track. The stig could of got another sec of the time with out any trouble

By: James May

James May — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:43:59 +0000

Its the old z4 which has been taking part in the vln which they will modify.I knew that BMW would race the GT2 in europe,and it was the fia holding things up. I think the GTS has helped

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:58:45 +0000

Jon- you could always weld the roof closed and provide additional roll cage members.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:37:23 +0000

Interesting news for sure!

"Furthermore, we will also expand our customer racing programme, and will be offering a new car in the form of a BMW Z4 that complies with GT3 regulations."

A Coupe coming along for the E89? I see no way GT3 would allow a convertible into the race.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:01:20 +0000

Great news on all fronts! So the rumblings I had been hearing about Schnitzer competing in the GT series turned out to be true. I know that the GT2 M3 will need to undergo some changes for the 24 hours of Le Mans and that one race costs an arm and a leg (almost quite literally) so they are putting a good amount of money into racing!

I am glad that the Autoblog story was incorrect (as we suspected) that racing would be further cut.

-M