Spearheaded by the new BMW M2 MotoGP Safety Car, the official BMW M fleet made its first appearance of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship in March, which kicked off with the Qatar Grand Prix at the “Losail International Circuit” in Doha. This year marks BMW M’s 18th season as “Official Car of MotoGP”. BMW’s successful partnership with MotoGP organizer, Dorna Sports, dates back to 1999. Since then, the fleet of M models and M Performance models has helped to ensure that race events run safely.
This year’s new highlight from BMW M Division is the BMW M2 MotoGP Safety Car. The new lead car is based on the BMW M2 Coupé, which enjoyed a high-profile world debut in Detroit in January. In the BMW M factory, the production car was modified, optimised and prepared by hand for its new role. As well as exclusive tailor-made solutions and mandatory safety features, the engineers at BMW M Division also equipped the Safety Car with extensive BMW M Performance Parts. This not only gives the car an eye-catching appearance, but also plays a practical role in the areas of aerodynamics, cooling and lightweight design.
With its distinct racing genes, the BMW M2 Coupé provided the ideal basis for a MotoGP Safety Car. The new inline six-cylinder engine with innovative M TwinPower Turbo technology and three-litre capacity guarantees an extremely sporty performance. With a maximum output of 370 hp, the extremely rev-happy powertrain really makes its mark out on the track. The intelligent, lightweight concept, low point of gravity and small, unsprung weight are further trump cards, which help ensure the maximum agility and dynamics of the high-performance coupé.
“We are proud to have been a part of this captivating world championship for almost two decades,” said Frank van Meel, President of BMW M Division. “Dorna Sports knows it has a strong partner on its side for which the safety of the riders on their high-performance racing prototypes has the utmost priority. The BMW M MotoGP Safety Cars are innovative high-performance models with thoroughbred racing genes. It is the 25th year, in which Dorna Sports has been responsible for organising and marketing MotoGP. During this period, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and his committed staff have managed to establish the motorcycle world championship as the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsport, which holds millions of spectators around the world under its spell and sets benchmarks in terms of technology and safety. We would like to congratulate Dorna Sports on this anniversary.”
In the 2016 season, the fleet of official MotoGP vehicles includes a total of six different BMW M and BMW M Performance models. Alongside the new BMW M2 MotoGP Safety Car, the BMW M4 Coupé with water injection and the BMW M3 will also be in action as safety cars. The BMW X5 M and the BMW M550d xDrive Touring will be on track this season as medical cars. BMW M Division will provide the safety officer with a BMW M5. All vehicles were further optimised for their special use in the motorcycle world championship in the BMW M factory. Two BMW S 1000 RRs, which BMW Motorrad provides as safety bikes, complete the 2016 safety vehicle fleet. More information is available online at: www.bmw-m-safetycar.com .
Among the many other activities that make up BMW M Division’s commitment to MotoGP is the BMW M Award, which will be presented for the 14th time in 2016. This award is presented at the end of each MotoGP season to the rider with the best overall result in qualifying. The winner receives an exclusive BMW M car.