M3 GTR update

[Speedi]

Originally posted by ian840
I agree, they could make enough M3 GTR's to get the price at LEAST under $150,000. I dont think that is asking too much considering cars out there like the Ferrari 360 Modena in that price range. To me $230,000 for any M3 is just absurd, even as the M3 fanatic that I am. Just my two cents...

-Ian

No one said BMW had to sell the GTR, maybe that's what they are up to, they don't WANT anyone to buy the GTR.

- Speedi

[hobbesboarder]

ya i believe Le Mans rules dictate that one hundred GTR's must be sold in order for them to allow the V8 M3s to race this year and well thats a hell of a lot GTRs to sell before feb.

[Speedi]

Yeah, that's not going to happen. Actually, in the scheme of things, the Hartge M3 is not all that impressive. 0-60 drops 3/10's of a second and quarter mile drops 0.5 seconds and 6mph, MAYBE, for $120k???

I don't know if my figures are correct, but I remember Motor Trend getting 0-60 of 4.8 and quarter mile of ~13.6x at ~107mph... for $46k base MSRP. I think the Hartge M3 is cool, but I just don't see how ANYONE can remotely justify spending $70k MORE for a car that gets minimal performance gains.

OTOH, once you get to this level of performance, I think you need LOTS of horsepower to push the vehicle beyond these statistics.

[Morpheus XIII]

Well it has happened. To some, answered prayers, to others, worst nightmares. BMW has withdrawn from the 2002 season of Le Mans in order to recuperate with the newly drawn ACO rules for the GT class. Formerly (and BMW really took this to the extreme letter) GT class vehicles were allowed to race if at least one homologation special was created for the public. Following these guidlines, BMW drew up the M3 GTR, which did end up dominating the entire season of 2001, leaving Porsche in complaint. And the Automobile Club l'Oueste heard the pleas and rewrote the book in Bimmers (essentially aimed at them), requiring at least one homologation special to be made once a week. If the manufacturer could not comply to this rule, a heavy air restrictor and weight ballast would need to be placed in the contender. Furthermore, from this point on, all GT class vehicles must use engines based on the high output production engine, with risk of the same weight and air penatlties (meaning no more V-8s for BMW). The folks at Bimmer decided a withdrawal from the entire season would be much more fitting than losing every race of 2002 that they led during 2001. As it seems, Porsche got their wish of retaining vehicles to the "spirit" of the rules.

[Morpheus XIII]

It's hard to imagine that after all the conundrum, there is yet one fanatic to respond to this thread. Tell me there is another thread that I am overlooking.

In any case, I suppose the season of 2002 will be an all-Porsche affair. This is really shameful to hear as many know, without competition, there is no growth. BMW could have redrawn their inline-6, but I'm sure they have their "reasons" for leaving the field.

It has been recently stated (prior to the new rulebook) that Porsche could have altered their 996 GT2's mechanical design to accomodate a mid-engined powerplant. The task would simply require a loss of the rear-seat compartment, and a 180 degree mounting of the turbocharged flat-6. This could possibly yield better weaving and cornering, for the lack of brute power against the M3 GTRs, at the sacrifice of burying age-old rear-mounted Porsche tradition. At one point, the Boxster was even suggested as a formidable platform for the GT-class, but was firmly denied by a Porsche head and other officials (--breath of relief--).

Future thoughts? Although a turbocharged inline-6 powered M3 might be a drastic final swing, it could be BMW's only hope. Of course, this would mean a high production turbo M3 for the public! What to do... Will BMW abandon the GT-class entirely, and reintroduce itself to the LMP-class to give Audi some well-deserved competition? Or will we see some depth defying 10 grand rpm plus n/a action? Let's sit tight and see...

[SuperRice]

Porche produced the 911 GT3's which dominated on the courses. The car was built solely for racing in mind, with a $200,000+ price tag, who would argue. Porche threw a punch with the GT3, BMW had to respond. The M3 GTR was built and it beat the GT3. But now, the ALMS are calling it, and many others, are calling it "cheating almost", well, if that were true then wouldn't Porche be guilty of the same crime? And the ALMS complained to BMW ONLY AFTER porche had whined about their losses and the new M3 GTRs. When the GT3 was made, BMW accepted the challenge, and just came back with an even stronger automobile. This is what a true racing car company is all about.

[Morpheus XIII]

Originally posted by SuperRice
...When the GT3 was made, BMW accepted the challenge, and just came back with an even stronger automobile...

If your definition of a "stronger automobile" is one with a massive engine with more cylinders stuffed in, well that's your opinion (this is the same "bigger is better" approach of American automakers that failed to allow them to be world competitors in motorsports). But the way I see it, BMW Motorsports could have done a number of other things before resorting to the V-8, including the aforementioned forced induction. High performance V-8s can even touch into GT-S territory. Porsche really went a bit far with their pricey homologation special, but BMW simply went overboard. A man would feel closer to the GT3 in his Turbo, than an M3 owner relative to a GTR.

[NSX]

what was the specs of the M3 GTR?...LM version

[Pennzoil GT-R]

Although i would love to see the M3-GTR race in the GT series, it is about time the rule makers realised that road homolagation take the piss. It used to be so easy to get around them, and every time the FIA realised this, they would change the damn rules (case in point being the CLK-GTR-no car like that will ever be built again after FIA realised wot a joke it was for them to have to build only 25 of the things). Now they have some half decent rules they should stick by them