BMW Z4 GTE Debuts, Replacing M3 GT in ALMS

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by bmwmmm

BMW bending the rules again. This is 2000 all over again.

Agree. All they would need to is actually build a car that the American public already wants. Apparently in the future perhaps, since that's what the e90/e92 m3 became eventually after the 2000 debacle.

More than likely BMW only wants to run one season with this z4

[BMWI6]

Originally Posted by Duck360198

This is so f-ing gorgeous it makes me scream for a new Z4M! It's unbelievable to me how ridiculously TAME the M3 looks compared to this. I can't wait to see this monster perform. GO BMW!

Couldn't have said it better myself. This car is too pretty. I owuld be all over a new Z4M. I cannot fathom how BMW does not make this car. Sad

[bmwmmm]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Agree. All they would need to is actually build a car that the American public already wants. Apparently in the future perhaps, since that's what the e90/e92 m3 became eventually after the 2000 debacle.

More than likely BMW only wants to run one season with this z4

They have to build 100 cars and 1,000 engines for the car to qualify without penalties, so yes they could do it but do you think they actually will? I am hoping they do but have little faith they will.

[bimmerjph]

I think this is one of the best looking race car ever made! Hopefully it will be one of the fastest too!

[Silver E90]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Agree. All they would need to is actually build a car that the American public already wants. Apparently in the future perhaps, since that's what the e90/e92 m3 became eventually after the 2000 debacle.

More than likely BMW only wants to run one season with this z4

Why do you say that? I think that next year they will have a team in the WEC and at Le Mans. For the near future the Z4 is the GT platform for BMW. The question is what is next? The new M4 with what engine? Or a GT version of the rumored M8 in 2016?

[strati1]

Anyone notice the button labeled "fancy" on the steering wheel? forgive my ignorance but what is that?

[WarrantyTracker]

O.K., I'm new to GT racing, so I may not know what I'm talking about. Though I did see the European GT3 championship series this year, where they are racing the GT3 Z4. Admittedly it looks cool and therefore promotes the brand. But the street Z4 is so NOT a trackable/driver's car! And they can't be trying to support demand for the street version, which sells only a few hundred a month, as opposed to a few thousand for M3s, which do appeal to track-heads and where the demand support naturally fits well. I guess they have to go somewhere else during the upcomming break in M3 production, but I think makes them look like posers if they stay with the Z4 longer than they have to. Why didn't they do an 1 series M coupe instead?

[Nate@IND]

I love it

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by JBasham

O.K., I'm new to GT racing, so I may not know what I'm talking about. Though I did see the European GT3 championship series this year, where they are racing the GT3 Z4. Admittedly it looks cool and therefore promotes the brand. But the street Z4 is so NOT a trackable/driver's car! And they can't be trying to support demand for the street version, which sells only a few hundred a month, as opposed to a few thousand for M3s, which do appeal to track-heads and where the demand support naturally fits well. I guess they have to go somewhere else during the upcomming break in M3 production, but I think makes them look like posers if they stay with the Z4 longer than they have to. Why didn't they do an 1 series M coupe instead?

most likely because a the 1 series M coupe also stopped production. I see this car lasting maybe 2 or 3 years depending on when the next M3/M4 comes out

[E9TOU]

Really sad to see the M3 leave ALMS. I hope it makes a return when the next generation comes out.

[Thurman Murch]

So the rear tyres just have more meat and are a quarter inch wider than the foot tyres up front

It would be nice to see a pic of the bay

Are they going with the Z4 chassis for weight or cD?

I was thinking this back a while ago... I think BMW may just keep the S65 motor around for the m3/4 series in a sense that a regular m will have the S55 and maybe the black series fighter will have the S65B44

[MrClean335i]

Originally Posted by Silver E90

Why do you say that? I think that next year they will have a team in the WEC and at Le Mans. For the near future the Z4 is the GT platform for BMW. The question is what is next? The new M4 with what engine? Or a GT version of the rumored M8 in 2016?

I think the Z4 GTE will stay until the M Mid-engine car comes out. The rules are going to change for 2015 as manufacturers is looking to make one platform for all racing series instead of having to make a GT3 and a GTE version of the same car.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Does this mean BMW will continue to use naturally aspirated V8s in ALMS indefinitely, or did the fact that the engine is still in production currently play a big role in getting it through the approval process?

The car looks great, but I think I'd rather see the non-production car/engine-type pairings left to the tube-chassis series'.

This car racing has been a work in progress in the US for the past few years.... I won't go into all of it but this car is homologated for the "new" class of ALMS/Grand AM. BMW will no longer produce a naturally aspirated engine soon so technically they couldn't even compete in ALMS with the past rules. The next few years will be strange in ALMS because of the merger but once turbos are allowed there will be a different setup and that will be based on a production engine (N55/S55) which will cease the issue with the production engine rules.
This car is also being heavily restricted because of the engine and the transmission is not an XTRAC. The competition is also outside the original ALMS rules as well.

Will BMW race the M4 or will it be the M2- M8 once the Z4 is out to pasture in 3 years? One thing is for sure we have seen the end of the M3 in racing.

Having watch the Z4 GT3 in Europe these past two years- I know fans will fall in love with it on the track as it looks mean and sounds angry.

I wouldn't be surprised to see MB begin racing in the states now as well since the rule changes will make things more affordable- the Z4 has less development costs and is much quicker.

[WarrantyTracker]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

most likely because a the 1 series M coupe also stopped production. I see this car lasting maybe 2 or 3 years depending on when the next M3/M4 comes out

Well, the E82 chassis is still in production, and the F22 will succeed it probably sometime this calendar year. And I don't think it matters that the 1M coupe is over; it's not like the Z4 is available in an M either.

[EINSER M]

freaking sick

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

This car racing has been a work in progress in the US for the past few years.... I won't go into all of it but this car is homologated for the "new" class of ALMS/Grand AM. BMW will no longer produce a naturally aspirated engine soon so technically they couldn't even compete in ALMS with the past rules. The next few years will be strange in ALMS because of the merger but once turbos are allowed there will be a different setup and that will be based on a production engine (N55/S55) which will cease the issue with the production engine rules.

False.

Not according to the ALMS rules book, section 5.5 (page 201). Turbo/Supercharged engines are allowed.

So BMW doesn't have an excuse. They want to go to an all FI lineup in the showrooms, then have some balls and run it at the track now.

Originally Posted by mapezzul

I wouldn't be surprised to see MB begin racing in the states now as well since the rule changes will make things more affordable- the Z4 has less development costs and is much quicker.

Other brands should take advantage of all the waivers BMW got. Benz should convert their SLS GT3 over to GTE spec.

[Dan@UnitedBMW]

Love this car. In convos with Joey, he had been testing this setup since before the 2012 Petit Le Mans

[z4z4z4]

FINALLY! A BMW sports car in a North American luxury sports car series!
Looking forward to LBGP and Laguna Seca!

[mose121]

Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW

Love this car. In convos with Joey, he had been testing this setup since before the 2012 Petit Le Mans

Sounds about right, especially since he was already over there for DTM. Did he give any input on the Z4 vs. the M3?

[Jason]

Some live sights and sounds:

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by Jason

Some live sights and sounds:

why does the Z4 sound so different than the M3? The M3 is screaming in the video!

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Agree. All they would need to is actually build a car that the American public already wants. Apparently in the future perhaps, since that's what the e90/e92 m3 became eventually after the 2000 debacle.

More than likely BMW only wants to run one season with this z4

Z4 GTE looks great and will do well. The Z4 GTE will only last for one or two seasons to fill in for the EOP M3 and the upcoming replacement that will have to go under homologation and testing.
So far the Z4 has proved to match the speed to win races, just has to hold together to finish them.
Lets see!