M3 GTR update

[Morpheus XIII]

OK, so most of you know that the Le Mans series BMW M3 is now a V-8 powered M3 GTR (I couldn't find a dedicated thread for the GTR so I'm placing this update here). Porsche is upset with their failing performance of the GT3s and has noted to the Le Mans regulations committee that BMW does not produce a production version of the M3 GTR. Brushed aside at first with BMWs announcement of a future V-8 powered production M3, the committee has now ordered a tighter air restrictor for the GTRs. Their lenience with BMW's intentions has expired and are now acting with this new power-reducer.

Cheers for Porsche; cheating is wrong in any serious or mild form. And cheers for BMW, IF they draw out a production V-8 M3 soon enough.

[Steel]

i thought it was a v-12? Or...maybe that was the hamann laguna seca one....uh..

[Morpheus XIII]

Not exactly sure what type of Bimmer that one is. But the shot below is the ALMS M3 GTR.

This from Speedvision's site:

"In accordance with the regulations of the Automobil Club de l'Ouest (ACO), which also organizes the Le Mans 24 Hours, BMW Motorsport will be building a limited-production run of M3 GTRs in addition to the race version. This vehicle is primarily intended for customer racing. Depending on national homologation regulations, however, it can be distributed with road licensing. Detailed technical specifications and prices are to be released at a later date."

I suppose BMW hasn't been living up to their promise and the regulations committee has mandated the stricter power-killer.

[F20C]

Already knew that next generation M3 is V8 powered long time ago.

[Moppie]

I scanned this from the Navembe issue of NZ Driver magazine.
I think it sums it all up.

[ian840]

"BMW has no plans to bring it here anyways."

Well damn, not ever going to see a GTR I guess. I dont know if I would pay $230,000 for one anyways.

I hope they make the M3 CSL, (and bring it to the US!!!) I think they could sell them in the $70-80,000 range. The CSL would really enforce BMW's performance image. A 911 turbo killer for less? Sounds good!

-Ian

[Morpheus XIII]

Yeah, it looks like BMW finally brought out the M3 GTR. I must say, it's really a dissapointment. As a car, it's awesome, but a standpoint from a wider perspective seems to show that BMW only created this car to obey ALMS homologation rules solely to beat out Porsche. Le mans has always been about real-world cars doing unreal things, but in this case, it almost looks like cheating. The car is to be produced starting February 2002, and only in really measly numbers at the astronomical prices mentioned earlier. The FIA forces WRC cars to be homologated in high volume, thereby forcing the production prices down to a level where average people can purchase them. With expectations predicting that the majority of the GTRs will go straight back to the tracks nearly reverses the goal of homologation. To make things worse, it's missing 100 hp from the ALMS version and will be detuned to 350 hp (yes, it's in order to make it streetable, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of the massive V-8?).

IMO, the CSL (if ever produced) will be a better choice, at a much better price. You also get the ultra-cool SMG II gearbox.

Below: Press release shot again, larger

[Morpheus XIII]

Mispost; here it is:

[Moppie]

Originally posted by ian840
"BMW has no plans to bring it here anyways."

ummm, that here is my here, which is New Zealand.

If you look closly you'll notice that the GTR in the pic is LHD, which means its for the European and possibly the American market. If the car passes the US crash tests etc then I see no reason why a few won't make it stateside.

But I know the only way Ill ever see one is If someone buys me a plane ticket.

[nick6_lmr]

Originally posted by ian840
"BMW has no plans to bring it here anyways."

Well damn, not ever going to see a GTR I guess. I dont know if I would pay $230,000 for one anyways.

Not like Porsche wants to sell the GT3 in America.
Maybe a few "Porsche fans" will disagree with me on this, but I'm tired of hearing of all the bullshit about the M3-GTR being "to fast", or "to quick". Hell, just to make it shorter, with out the M3 it would be all porsches.
IMO, a "Porsche GT3-R(S) Cup" would get a little dull after a little.
-Nick

[Morpheus XIII]

Originally posted by nick6_lmr
but I'm tired of hearing of all the bullshit about the M3-GTR being "too fast", or "to quick".

I don't know who says the GTR is 'too' anything, but one thing BMW should not have done was pretty much make the street variant follow the race model like trailing paperwork. Plus it just bluntly looks like a case of bad form, seeing how they brought out the street V-8 with too little, too late for the homologation rules, and it really showed, when Automobil Club de l'Ouest mandated the air restrictor change. So it's not just a couple of Porsche fanatics who see it this way; it's the whole organization.

[Morpheus XIII]

Well, it looks like the air restrictor change isn't really affecting the GTR's performance, with consistent wins following. I wonder if Porsche has anything up their sleeve.. Perhaps the upcoming Cayenne 8-cylinder engine with twin-turbos? I don't think they would use the Carrera GT's V10; they should be saving that for the LMP class.

[328isRob]

Porsche did the same thing with one of their cars... I don't remember which model ( have to go back to the books to find that one out) but they produced a bunch of cars to sell which never went to a dealer they just sat behind the factory to comply with the rules.

[Morpheus XIII]

Homologation rules need to become more strict in Le Mans, and need to be enforced by the ACO, just like the heavy regulations in the FIA World Rally. Great sports car racers are for the people, the fans, NOT just for wins. Therefore, the race models should have better compliance with the public, and we should see more of the street versions on the road, in better numbers. Just as the FIA mandates several thousand of each rally car to be sold each year (thereby keeping the price low for these production cars), the ACO needs to do something of the sort.

[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