2022 marks 50 years of BMW M, the performance-focused division renowned for making some of Germany’s most legendary sports and race cars, and now ahead of this year’s MotoGP series comes BMW’s latest offering — a BMW M2 CS Racing safety car.
BMW has been the MotoGP safety car partner since 1999 and typically uses road-going cars that have been converted for the race track. For this season, BMW presents its first-ever race car that’s been adapted for safety car purposes. Speaking on the project, Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH said, “The BMW M2 CS Racing has been successful in a wide range of championships — and, as a thoroughbred race car, is perfectly suited to leading the field as the safety car in the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. We are looking forward to our 24th season as ‘Official Car of MotoGP™’ and to seeing the BMW M2 CS Racing in action as a safety car for the first time in Qatar.”
The car in question packs a three-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine that produces 450 HP and has been altered for the track thanks to the inclusion of a mechanical limited-slip differential with pre-load and separate cooling, a specially-manufactured drive shaft and a carbon roof. Lightbars now grace the roof and the grille, while a motorsports-themed livery in the BMW M colors (white, red, and blue) cover the entire car.
Lightweight rims and 50th-anniversary branding on the windowscreen round out the safety car. Joining this will be the BMW M3 Competition Safety Car, the BMW M4 Competition Safety Car, the BMW M5 CS Safety Car, the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé Safety Car, the BMW X5 M Competition Medical Car, and two BMW M 1000 RR Safety Bikes. The fully-electric BMW i4 M50 Safety Car will also lead the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup.
In other news, there could be a new DeLorean on its way.