BMW has more plans for their M4 Coupe beyond just removing its roof (Convertible) or fettling with the engine, suspension and brakes (Competition pack). The Munich automaker wants to take it racing in the GT4 racing series, where private teams primarily race factory-built but FIA-approved race-ready cars.
The new hardcore variant that BMW teased in this image - replete with a lowered stance, an impressive amount of extra aero, what we can only assume to be a flat underbelly, and a very obvious fixed rear wing – is something we hope to see come to life, especially with that three-tone M stripe livery against a while body.
The precedent has most definitely been set, with the previous E92 BMW M3 receiving GT4 treatment and still remains racing through a number of teams to this day. Other sports cars competing in the racing series includes the Lotus Evora GT4, Porsche Cayman GT4, Maserati Gran Turismo MC, and Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director, said: "The BMW M4 Coupé provides the ideal basis for our new GT4 model. This is a strong base for our engineers to close the gap between our customer racing spearhead, the BMW M6 GT3, and the BMW M235i Racing for newcomers with a car that is extremely sporty in its production version. The BMW M4 GT4 is designed perfectly for simple use by privateer teams, who can celebrate successes around the world as ambassadors for BMW Motorsport with this model."
There’s no official word on exactly what changes the purported M4 GT4 will have over the already quite track-capable M4 GTS. There will be more carbon. That’s for certain.
Carbon fibre doors, racing-spec front splitter and rear wing, racing exhaust system, and a GTS-derived carbon bonnet. Supposedly, the drivetrain will be shared with the regular M4, but possibly tuned to well above what it’s capable of in stock form. For reference, the M4 GTS’s 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine produces 368kW and 599Nm.
To make it race reliable, however, a lot more calibration work as well as the replacement of several stress components will have to be considered for the M4 GT4. The brakes, seats, and pedal box already have a donor: the M6 GT3.
This new race-ready M4 is scheduled to arrive in the second of 2017 with a first possible race appearance at the 24 Hours of Dubai in January 2018.
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