BMW M4 GT3 COMPLETES SHAKEDOWN

BMW M4 GT3 Completes Shakedown – Photo: Supplied

BMW’s next entry into the highly competitive GT3 class has been revealed in Germany with former World Touring Car driver and factory M driver Augusto Farfus behind the wheel.

By HEATH McALPINE

Set to debut in 2022, the M4 GT3 undertook a shakedown at the BMW Group Plant in Dingolfing ahead of a scheduled track test at Miramas in France next week.

Conforming to the new 2022 GT3 ruleset, the M4 GT3 is based off the yet-to-be-released updated road-going model that will be revealed in September and follows on from a teaser released in December last year.

The road-going and race versions of the marque’s new sports coupe have been developed in parallel with each other.

“It is always an emotional moment when a newly-developed BMW race car takes to the track for the first time,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt. “This time, however, I am particularly proud.

“Given the difficult conditions of the past few months, it is quite remarkable that we have managed to implement our development program as planned, and whilst complying with the BMW Group’s strict safety and hygiene regulations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, have managed to stick to the date originally envisaged for the rollout of the BMW M4 GT3.”

Design and development of the new M4 GT3 began early last year consisting of CFD computer simulations, while the powerplant is expected to produce more than 500bhp.

Work continued at the beginning of this year to produce a chassis ahead of a test in expectation of debuting in 2021 and customer sales to follow in 2022.

Farfus is expected to lead the test and development program for the M4 GT3 and is excited by the potential demonstrated by the new model after the first shakedown.

“It was fantastic and a great honour for me to be able to drive the first few meters in the new BMW M4 GT3,” said Farfus.

“I have been involved in the development of several BMW race cars and am always particularly pleased to be a part of such an important project.

“Although our main job during the rollout is to perform functional tests, I had a good feeling in the car from the outset and am already looking forward to the tests scheduled for the coming months.”

BMW’s latest iteration replaces the multiple 24 Hours of Spa winning M6 GT3, which also scored two Allan Simonsen Trophies for Chaz Mostert at the Bathurst 12 Hour among many other successes worldwide.

BMW is currently fielding customer interest.

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