First appearances of the BMW M2 Racing at the NLS race at the Nürburgring and in the DTM paddock at Hockenheim.

Hockenheim/Nürburgring. New name, new design, and the first rigorous test in the “Green Hell”: BMW M Motorsport's new entry-level car had two major appearances this weekend. The BMW M2 Racing was introduced to fans in its new design at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim (GER) in the paddock. In parallel, the first test race was on the schedule at the 4-hour race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) on the Nordschleife (GER) on Saturday. Images from the photo studio, from Hockenheim, and in racing action can be found attached to this press release.

The official name of the car is BMW M2 Racing, as it is based on the BMW M2 production model. However, the BMW M2 Racing is modified to meet the technological and financial requirements of an entry-level car. Since changes may still occur in the relatively early phase of the development of the racing car to be used from 2026, details of the technical specifications of the BMW M2 Racing will only be announced next year.

The car will undergo further tests during the 2025 season in the BMW M Motorsport design presented in Hockenheim. The design includes “Easter Eggs” for the entertainment and guessing pleasure of fans, featuring outlines of complete layouts or individual sections of famous racetracks around the world.

The first rigorous test took place this Saturday in a camouflage design. During the NLS race on the Nordschleife, BMW M works drivers Max Hesse and Jens Klingmann (both GER) completed the first laps in the “Green Hell”. The BMW M2 Racing was entered by the FK Performance Motorsport Team and completed the four racing hours without any technical problems.

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport: “With the presentation of the new design and name of our entry-level car and the first rigorous test on the Nordschleife, the development of the BMW M2 Racing is moving into the next phase. The year 2025 will be characterised by many test drives, which aim to provide our customers with a perfectly prepared racing car from the 2026 season. The highest technological level, reliability, and above all affordability are our maxims for the BMW M2 Racing. We are aligning all our development steps with this. I am pleased that we were able to experience a successful kickoff this weekend in Hockenheim and at the Nürburgring.”

Max Hesse: “It was a successful racing debut with the BMW M2 Racing at the Nürburgring. I had a lot of fun with the car, Jens, and the team. Especially on the Nordschleife, the BMW M2 Racing was very good to drive. I believe we have aroused a lot of interest among some teams with our appearance in the paddock, which is very good. The start was positive, but of course, we also took many homework assignments with us, which we will work through in the coming weeks and months.”

Jens Klingmann: “The goal for this test was an initial assessment with the car. It was about gaining experience and data. We achieved that. With 27 driven laps without any significant problems, we are very satisfied. The first impression of the drivability of the BMW M2 Racing is consistently positive. The mixed weather was a blessing for us because we could drive in both dry and wet conditions. This gave us a very good picture of the driving behaviour. Now it's about analysing the collected data and making further progress in the next tests.”