BMW has set a course for the future in GT racing: The newly developed BMW M6 GT3 was presented to a specialist audience at the 66th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main (DE). The racing version of the BMW M6 Coupe will be sent into action by numerous privateer teams from the 2016 season in a host of championships and renowned race events around the world as part of the BMW Sports Trophy.BMW Motorsport has channelled its vast well of experience amassed since 2010 with the BMW M6 GT3’s successful predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, into the development of the new car. Indeed, the new GT3 racer boasts a raft of improvements, particularly in the areas of drivability and economy. One example is the use of a series-produced engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology, which develops higher output and an increase in torque. Moreover, with its centrally-positioned driver’s seat and long wheelbase, the BMW M6 GT3 offers a driving feeling unparalleled on the racing scene. The net price of the car is 379,000 Euros.
“The BMW M6 Coupe production model provided us with the perfect basis for developing our new GT racing car,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “The heart of the BMW M6 GT3, its engine, has been transferred from the production car with only minor modifications. Furthermore, the car sets new benchmarks when it comes to safety – with a completely re-designed front, a large distance to the safety cage, and the driver’s seat oriented well towards the centre of the car. With the BMW M6 GT3, our customer racing teams can look forward to thoroughbred motor racing technology. The BMW M6 GT3 incorporates many findings from works racing projects, while at the same time being cost-oriented towards customer racing. The BMW M6 GT3 is BMW’s most economic GT racing car ever: with significantly lower running costs than its predecessor the BMW Z4 GT3, as well as longer lifecycles for cost-intensive parts – and all that while at the same time increasing performance. And let’s not forget the design: with its athletic lines, the BMW M6 GT3 is a real eye-catcher. I am confident that we are excellently positioned for the future with this top model in our customer racing range.”
The BMW M6 GT3 weighs less than 1,300 kilograms, and the transaxle drive concept, sequential six-speed racing gearbox and body aerodynamics optimised in the BMW wind tunnel also highlight the imminent arrival of a full-blooded racer from BMW Motorsport in 2016. The reliability, efficiency and ease of maintenance of the BMW M6 GT3 will likewise be tuned to master the demands of endurance racing, and its longer wheelbase promises to deliver significantly improved handling characteristics compared with the BMW Z4 GT3. As well as the car itself, BMW M6 GT3 customers will also benefit from the service laid on by BMW Motorsport support engineers and a trackside supply of parts.
In May 2015, ahead of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in Germany, BMW Motorsport customers from around the world were treated to an exclusive first glimpse of the BMW M6 GT3 – not to mention a detailed presentation of the car by drivers and engineers – at a “closed room” event at the BMW M Testcenter Nürburg. The GT racing car was subsequently introduced to fans of “the most powerful letter in the world” at the traditional M Night event on the Friday before the classic endurance race in the “Green Hell”.Customer teams in North America were able to feast their eyes on the BMW M6 GT3 for the first time at the United SportsCar Championship (USCC) in Watkins Glen (US), where the racing car was given its first public appearance on the other side of the Atlantic in late June. The BMW M6 GT3 was then revealed to teams, drivers and fans at the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race in Belgium – the most important GT race in the world. And now, the car has appeared in BMW Motorsport racing livery for the first time at the IAA.
The BMW M6 GT3 has undergone an extensive programme of testing on a variety of circuits over the course of 2015. This has allowed the experienced BMW works drivers to amass many valuable kilometres at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3, and to carry out important work on the baseline set-up of the new GT and endurance racing challenger. This new poster car for customer racing is now undergoing a final round of fine-tuning prior to its race debut in the coming year.
