At this time, BMW’s buyer racing program is well-known and revered — you may pretty name it a touchstone of the model. Nevertheless it wasn’t all the time that manner. Since 1972, BMW Motorsport has constructed buyer race automobiles, however most weren’t suited to North America resulting from differing rules. Guidelines and restrictions typically vacillate wildly from their European counterparts. For years, U.S. privateers needed to convert avenue automobiles into race automobiles as a result of BMW NA lacked the infrastructure to help factory-built racers. However racers within the U.S. weren’t sure to the homebrew strategy endlessly. In 2013, issues modified drastically.
Official BMW race automobiles discovered their manner Stateside when longtime BMW racer Will Turner imported two used Z4 GT3s, prompting BMW NA to help them. Turner wasn’t actually somebody BMW might ignore; Turner Motorsport had already gained six skilled championships. Most impressively, these wins got here from the cockpit of race-converted avenue automobiles, quite than autos with any type of manufacturing unit backing or help. BMW was comfy with the chance — in any case, it was “simply” two full blown race automobiles — and prompted the corporate to develop the beginnings of what would turn into a buyer racing help construction. The automotive’s success within the 2014 GTD class additional motivated efforts. Turner didn’t cease there; used Z4s had been seemingly simply the value of admission. The actual attraction was the M6 GT3. Extremely, Turner received the primary and second automobiles constructed, paying €379,000 for every in 2016.
The M235i Racing Units the Tempo and Paves the Manner Ahead
On the identical time, BMW Motorsport was creating the entry-level M235i Racing. It was supposed as an inexpensive, turnkey race automotive. U.S. curiosity grew, significantly from performance-oriented BMW dealerships, ten of which pledged help and curiosity to the product. BMW NA labored to safe EPA approval and adapt the automotive for Pirelli World Problem competitors in 2016. The M235i Racing took dwelling the gold, with Basic BMW’s Toby Grahovec solely ending off-podium twice within the 12-race sequence.
The M235i Racing rapidly proved dependable, aggressive, and transformative — driving large adoption and revealing new challenges, equivalent to adapting European race automobiles for warmer, higher-altitude American circuits. Possibly most significantly, it was really inexpensive: in 2016, pricing was from $65,854. The success of the M235i program helped BMW globalize its customer-racing improvement and influenced the design of the M4 GT4, which was deliberately constructed on a U.S.-spec platform for simpler help. Sturdy demand adopted, with many groups progressing from the M235i to the M4 GT4, and ultimately to the brand new G82-based M4 GT3 launched in 2022.
At this time, BMW NA’s buyer racing ecosystem contains GT3, GT4, and entry-level M2 Racing fashions competing throughout IMSA, GTD, and different sequence. Supported by devoted technical workers and 16 Motorsport Facilities, buyer racing now performs a serious advertising and marketing position — reinforcing BMW’s efficiency id as its manufacturing unit program focuses on hybrid prototypes. In line with BMW management, buyer groups racing BMW’s inline-six-powered GT automobiles ship a uniquely genuine model message amid a subject dominated by V8s. What started as a workaround for decided privateers has developed right into a thriving, world-class ecosystem. Buyer racing arguably defines BMW’s racing id — in North America and past.
Supply: BMW USA
