2009 BMW M3 Race Version

Nask0™ · Feb 07, 2008, 4:57 AM

BMW used today’s Chicago Auto Show to announce that it will be returning to the arena of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) next year with two new race-prepped versions of its latest E92 M3 Coupe set to join the GT2 class. The 2009 entry into the ALMS will be driven by a partnership between BMW of North America and Rahal Letterman Racing, which is also co-owned by US motorsport legend Bobby Rahal.

The race car features a 485hp version of the 4.0L high-rev V8 engine, a race-tuned chassis, a significantly wider and lighter body and plenty of carbon-fiber pieces. The aggressive aerokit was developed using numerous F1 techniques including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel analysis. The car also runs a new POWER400 ECU system, which does away with conventional relays and fuses and saves even more weight.
BMW is no stranger to ALMS. The carmaker in fact won the event’s inaugural race back in 1999 when .J. Lehto, Tom Kristensen and Jorg Muller drove a BMW V12 LMR to victory lane in the 1999 12 Hours of Sebring. BMW went on to win the overall championship at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and racked up numerous wins in both the GT2 and LMP1 classes before eventually pulling out of the event in 2006.

from Motor Authority

More info @ Fast-Autos

I like the car and think, it will be fast on the tracks.
Will lovе to see a DTM concept (:

C.A.R. · Feb 07, 2008, 5:11 AM

Cool!

I follow the ETCC, but this is a bit more extreme! I think it looks dead good. I remmember the previous M3 GTR, and watching Mansell drive/thrash it around Brands Hatch - now that was a sight to behold!

Chris.

civic_VTI · Feb 07, 2008, 5:54 AM

let prostreet know he might buy one lol

hangar_18 · Feb 07, 2008, 6:00 AM

that looks really really nice! would be really really cool if they made a road version of that car, like Mercedes did with the CLK DTM AMG~~

mnd750 · Feb 07, 2008, 7:24 AM

Really nice one, could be the base for a new CSL or a road legal GT-R versions, which means it'll be lighter and more agile.

GSE · Feb 07, 2008, 7:29 AM

got to get me one of thoese... i mean... Damm.
That looks good

Ferrari308 · Feb 07, 2008, 8:29 AM

WOW.... That M3 looks good.
I'm still more of a fan of the E46 M3 GTR, but this one is cool (I REALLY like the body kit). I thought though that they could get more than 485BHP out of that V8.

C.A.R. · Feb 07, 2008, 8:39 AM

Of course they could!

It will be limited to under 500hp to make it legitimate for entry into the racing series. If they wanted, they could have pulled 1500hp from the engine, but it wouldn't serve a purpose!

Also, the car has to produce that sort of power and remain reliable, remmember, it may face some 24 hour enfurance races, so if 485 was as close as they could get to 500 without making it unrelieble, then that's what should be done.

Chris.

Cleaver564 · Feb 07, 2008, 9:53 AM

looks sleack and stylish in my eyes a nice body kit

Sad_katZ · Feb 07, 2008, 10:18 AM

About time they made an E92 race car. When oh when will they make another M3 GTR eh? lol

.

Anyway I like it very much. Expect other tuning companies to make similar body kits for your E92 M3. lol.

Phoenix_22 · Feb 07, 2008, 10:22 AM

I cannot wait to cheer them on next year, I just wish they were in it for this season!

So glad there is a BMW presence in ALMS again, these past few years have been unnerving, especially when you go to the BMW corral and there isn't a BMW in the field!

car lover !! · Feb 07, 2008, 10:54 AM

Weighing only 1150kg. They cut off a total of 500kg out from the M3. It's an impressive job. Not really if you actually consider all those luxurious stuffs and technologies they put in it.

It's a nice bodykit. Anyone realised that the car has been lowered? I mean the bodykit. Just take a look at the rearlights. It's nearly as low as it's rear wheel. Maybe it is partly because of the bodykit. It's a nice bodykit. Well done BMW!

Sheezus · Feb 07, 2008, 11:49 AM

I saw this this morning and was so excited I was gonna make a thread, but you beat me to it lol. This car is gonna like, totally own.

*#turbinas#* · Feb 07, 2008, 12:36 PM

I like it. I think they pushed th V8 engine very hard in order to produce 485hp. The bodykit looks really nice.

SamGTR · Feb 07, 2008, 1:22 PM

Wow, that looks amazing!

I love it. Must be replacing the E46 M3 GTR, as its got the same wide wheel arches and such.

I so hope they make a road version, or a new CSL as someone said.

Feb 07, 2008, 4:57 AM	#1
Nask0™ Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bourgas, Bulgaria Posts: 178	2009 BMW M3 Race Version BMW used today’s Chicago Auto Show to announce that it will be returning to the arena of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) next year with two new race-prepped versions of its latest E92 M3 Coupe set to join the GT2 class. The 2009 entry into the ALMS will be driven by a partnership between BMW of North America and Rahal Letterman Racing, which is also co-owned by US motorsport legend Bobby Rahal. The race car features a 485hp version of the 4.0L high-rev V8 engine, a race-tuned chassis, a significantly wider and lighter body and plenty of carbon-fiber pieces. The aggressive aerokit was developed using numerous F1 techniques including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel analysis. The car also runs a new POWER400 ECU system, which does away with conventional relays and fuses and saves even more weight. BMW is no stranger to ALMS. The carmaker in fact won the event’s inaugural race back in 1999 when .J. Lehto, Tom Kristensen and Jorg Muller drove a BMW V12 LMR to victory lane in the 1999 12 Hours of Sebring. BMW went on to win the overall championship at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and racked up numerous wins in both the GT2 and LMP1 classes before eventually pulling out of the event in 2006. from Motor Authority More info @ Fast-Autos I like the car and think, it will be fast on the tracks. Will lovе to see a DTM concept (: __________________ I Like What I Do, I Do What I Like

Feb 07, 2008, 5:54 AM	#3
civic_VTI Time waster Join Date: May 2006 Location: birmingham, england Posts: 7,045	let prostreet know he might buy one lol __________________ R.I.P Monkeyfkker we all got love for you and we all miss you

Feb 07, 2008, 8:29 AM	#7
Ferrari308 Needs an 850R in his life Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hmm........... Posts: 2,861	WOW.... That M3 looks good. I'm still more of a fan of the E46 M3 GTR, but this one is cool (I REALLY like the body kit). I thought though that they could get more than 485BHP out of that V8. __________________ In short, you are all morons. - Rav RIP Randy

Feb 07, 2008, 10:18 AM	#10
Sad_katZ Infrequent Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 755	About time they made an E92 race car. When oh when will they make another M3 GTR eh? lol . Anyway I like it very much. Expect other tuning companies to make similar body kits for your E92 M3. lol. __________________ << Signature missing!! >>

Feb 07, 2008, 10:22 AM	#11
Phoenix_22 Avatar Roulette Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 760	I cannot wait to cheer them on next year, I just wish they were in it for this season! So glad there is a BMW presence in ALMS again, these past few years have been unnerving, especially when you go to the BMW corral and there isn't a BMW in the field! __________________ -deviantART: Echo-Velocity

Feb 07, 2008, 5:11 AM	#2
C.A.R. Forum Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 3,795	Cool! I follow the ETCC, but this is a bit more extreme! I think it looks dead good. I remmember the previous M3 GTR, and watching Mansell drive/thrash it around Brands Hatch - now that was a sight to behold! Chris.

Feb 07, 2008, 6:00 AM	#4
hangar_18 Experienced Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brunei Posts: 652	that looks really really nice! would be really really cool if they made a road version of that car, like Mercedes did with the CLK DTM AMG~~

Feb 07, 2008, 7:24 AM	#5
mnd750 Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 238	Really nice one, could be the base for a new CSL or a road legal GT-R versions, which means it'll be lighter and more agile.

Feb 07, 2008, 7:29 AM	#6
GSE Junior Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 94	got to get me one of thoese... i mean... Damm. That looks good

Feb 07, 2008, 8:39 AM	#8
C.A.R. Forum Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 3,795	Of course they could! It will be limited to under 500hp to make it legitimate for entry into the racing series. If they wanted, they could have pulled 1500hp from the engine, but it wouldn't serve a purpose! Also, the car has to produce that sort of power and remain reliable, remmember, it may face some 24 hour enfurance races, so if 485 was as close as they could get to 500 without making it unrelieble, then that's what should be done. Chris.

Feb 07, 2008, 9:53 AM	#9
Cleaver564 Junior Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oakland, Ca Posts: 96	looks sleack and stylish in my eyes a nice body kit

Feb 07, 2008, 10:54 AM	#12
car lover !! Diablo GTR Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Doesn't Matter Posts: 8,853	Weighing only 1150kg. They cut off a total of 500kg out from the M3. It's an impressive job. Not really if you actually consider all those luxurious stuffs and technologies they put in it. It's a nice bodykit. Anyone realised that the car has been lowered? I mean the bodykit. Just take a look at the rearlights. It's nearly as low as it's rear wheel. Maybe it is partly because of the bodykit. It's a nice bodykit. Well done BMW! __________________ America started making solid cars and automatically won every competiton before they started. - Evo

Feb 07, 2008, 11:49 AM	#13
Sheezus Poster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny ol' London Posts: 359	I saw this this morning and was so excited I was gonna make a thread, but you beat me to it lol. This car is gonna like, totally own. __________________ "Secondly, a pirate can send his parrot to distract while he shoots the ninja" Attaus RIP Monkey

Feb 07, 2008, 12:36 PM	#14
#turbinas# Progress your mind Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Levadia city, Greece! Posts: 7,188	I like it. I think they pushed th V8 engine very hard in order to produce 485hp. The bodykit looks really nice. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fplmds

Feb 07, 2008, 1:22 PM	#15
SamGTR R Performance Join Date: May 2007 Location: S.England Posts: 900	Wow, that looks amazing! I love it. Must be replacing the E46 M3 GTR, as its got the same wide wheel arches and such. I so hope they make a road version, or a new CSL as someone said.

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