Successor to the BMW M4 GT4 successfully completes its first test race on the Nordschleife.

Nürburgring. As part of its intensive programme of testing this season, the successor to the BMW M4 GT4 successfully completed its first tough test under race conditions at the weekend. BMW M Motorsport fielded two cars on the Nordschleife in the 4-hour race which formed part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). Alternating at the wheel were BMW M Motorsport drivers Philipp Eng (AUT), Erik Johansson (SWE) and Stef Dusseldorp (NED). They were joined by Jörg Weidinger (GER), test and development engineer at BMW M GmbH and himself a successful participant in the BMW M Sports Trophy for many years. 

The two race versions of the new BMW M4 production car (combined fuel consumption: 10.1 – 9.9 l/100 km acc. WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 230 – 226 g/km acc. WLTP) completed 50 laps on Saturday, having spent all Friday testing on the most demanding racetrack in the world, which is also where all BMW M production vehicles are put to the test. In the race, the #54 car finished 24^th overall and first in the SP8T class.

“The successor to our BMW M4 GT4 hinted at its great potential in this race,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport. “The test went without any major problems and our engineers gathered data that will be valuable looking ahead to further optimisations over the course of the year. The feedback from the drivers was very positive. That shows we are on the right track to achieve our goal of providing our private BMW M Motorsport teams with a car in the 2023 season which is able to back up the great success achieved by its predecessor by retaining its strengths and improving in certain areas.”

Philipp Eng: “The race in the successor to the BMW M4 GT4 was really great fun. We came through without any problems and even won our class – it could not really have gone any better. The car is very easy to drive, and you can feel that it has the DNA of the BMW M4 GT3. The seat position is the same and the car, despite weighing more according to the regulations, is very agile in any kind of corner. The balance is right in fast, medium-fast and slow corners. I am happy with this test and confident that private BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers will also have a lot of fun with the successor to the BMW M4 GT4.”

During the development phase of the car, the focus was on issues such as ease of maintenance and operational costs. The complete drivetrain, including engine, 7-gear transmission and electronics, delivers more than 500 hp and has been adopted from the production model. This outstanding basis, which includes a multi-level traction control, has been optimised in detail for use in motorsport. The shock absorbers are made by KW. The use of sustainable materials like natural fibres, which replace carbon and plastic components, plays an important role. BMW M Motorsport is collaborating with the company Bcomp in this area.

Further details of the car that has been developed under SRO GT4 regulations will be released over the coming months.