Ferrari 458 Italia. Bentley Continental GT. BMW Z4. Audi R8. Lamborghini Gallardo. Spot the odd one out? BMW's GT3-racing Z4 has long been a front-running car, and also one it successfully evolved into GTE spec. But in the monied world of GT racing, a V8 version of a slow-selling and slightly hairdressery junior sports car seems like a wholesome PR opportunity missed.
Is there room for this and a GT-R on the track?
Now, BMW's responding. For 2016, it will launch a new
M6 GT3
, returning factory-supported big BMWs to GT racing (after Alpina successfully tested the water with the beefy B6 GT3). The firm's already teased it in wonderful Red Bull-style camo livery, and actually ran it last weekend at the Dingolfing factory test track normally used to assess customer 5, 6 and 7 Series.
Although it's unlikely to race in 2015, BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt is bullish about the car's potential. "We are well on schedule with the development, and are confident we will be able to take to the track in 2016 with a package that is competitive from the outset." It's to use the regular M6 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, has had more than half a tonne of weight taken out of it and boasts bodywork that BMW's honed in its in-house wind tunnel. Potential? Enormous. And finally aligning the marketing message with the calibre of car racing on track.
It's not the only new GT3 car we've seen recently, either. Lamborghini's wonderful Dallara-honed Huracan GT3 looks like a poster star and McLaren's 650S GT3 is also well advanced. Cadillac has engineered the new ATS-V.R to GT3 spec (a run in Blancpain for 2016 seems likely), and Callaway is still targeting 2016 for the debut of the Corvette C7 GT3. We'd also expect Jaguar to finally confirm the F-Type GT3 programme at some point in 2015, prior to a 2016 track debut.
Bathurst thriller proof of GT3's appeal
All these new cars prove the continued strength and appeal of GT3 racing, and the brilliance of Stephane Ratel's 2006 series spec. The cars look fantastic, the racing is entertaining and, although costs have inevitably risen in recent years, it's still cheaper to do GT3 than it is the FIA's own LM GTE championship.
Indeed, that was the logic behind series convergence talks that started back in 2012; take GT3 cost controls, combine with tighter GTE rules and create an all-new series incorporating both classes. Last year, however, they were ended without agreement, making 2015 the last year of the current GT3 regulations while the FIA figures out what to do next.
And while the GTE limbo continues, FIA GT3 goes from strength to strength. It will even star in the United Sportscar Championship from 2016, in the GT Daytona class, pitching them up against GTE-spec GT Le Mans cars. The gradual unification is tantalising and it's no wonder many teams running GT3 cars are so excited right now - don't expect Triple Eight's decision to step up from British GT to Blancpain to be the last such promotion.
More on some epic GT3 battling at Bathurst at the weekend later today too...
Kimi looking fast in the Ferrari
Last week, we told you F1 was back. As the first Jerez test drew to a close, it seems Ferrari's two F1 stars are also back after a rotten 2014. Sebastian Vettel had been pumping in the laps, and the times, throughout the test and, on the final day of running, Kimi Raikkonen shot to the sharp end too with the fastest time of the four days.
Indeed, the Scuderia was fastest for three days of the four-day test, with Felipe Nasr in a presumably skinny Sauber making it a clean sweep for Prancing Horse motors, to at least suggest the big weak point of 2014 has been cured.
The Ferrari motors ran for a total of more than 2,000 miles, which will also be encouraging; needless to say, the Mercs were metronomic too. McLaren-Honda, in contrast, have much work to do after managing just 217 miles in four days. They were also slowest, with Jenson nearly seven seconds off the pace and reliability-hobbled Alonso posting a near-15 second gap to Kimi.
Let's spare a moment for all those F1 engineers who will not be sleeping a wink between now and the next pre-season test in Barcelona on February 19-22 ...
For almost a decade, the Macau Grand Prix has also hosted the WTCC finale. That, however, moves to Qatar for 2015, leaving Macau without a top-line saloon car race to run on the special Chinese region's streets.
Enter an email to BTCC organiser Alan Gow and TOCA, to see whether teams in the British championship may be interested in sending over some cars this November as part of a possible multi-class event.
Tantalising thought, no? Recreating the spirit of the old 'touring car world cup' races of the 90s, it's the sort of multi-championship sprint race fans dream of, and could create a thriller of an event as tin-top drivers battle to get a Macau win on their CV. Here's hoping it happens.
[F1 and WTCC images: LAT, BMW M6 GT3 from BMW M Power homepage]