New 'grass roots' BMW M2 racer previewed

Circuit-honed straight-six coupe will be available for privateer entries next year

BMW will provide the all-new M2 racing car with its competition debut this weekend at the Nurburgring’s VLN race, before the model is offered for sale to privateer teams ahead of the 2020 season. The M240i Racing successor comes as the manufacturer continues to ramp up its global motorsport presence - which has included the introduction of the new 3 Series to the BTCC. The M2 has been developed to conform with a variety of series around the world, including, of course, the ‘Ring’s own annual 24-hour race. The model will join the M6 GT3 and M4 GT4 in BMW’s expanding motorsport customer base.

Ahead of the M2’s racing debut on August 3rd, BMW has delivered a trailer featuring the stripped-out M2. The footage confirms that it’ll get all the motorsport hallmarks, including an FIA roll cage, pair of bucket seats and an Alcantara-clad motorsport steering wheel. A fixed rear wing and what looks to be a larger front splitter also feature, while underneath there’s likely to be adjustable coilover suspension and uprated brakes, complete with ducting to direct cold air onto the calipers.

Since this is billed as a “grass roots” racer (relatively speaking, of course), there are unlikely to be many other changes to the technical setup. The road-going M2 Competition’s twin-scroll twin-turbocharged straight-six, essentially a detuned version of the former M3/M4 3.0-litre, will remain unchanged, producing the same 410hp and 405lb ft of torque – if it’s allowed to run without any series restrictors. While full details are yet to be confirmed, it’s likely that the M2’s DCT auto will remain responsible for cog-swapping, since there’s no boost in engine output and it’ll be cheaper than switching to a proper racing sequential.

On that note, there’s no word on pricing, but the old M235i racer cost from about seventy thousand euros, meaning the M2 should add a few thousand to that figure. Grass roots indeed. Still, who wouldn’t love a go in a race-tuned M2? If we had the money…