BMW Motorsport has confirmed that a new M6 GT3 will replace the Z4 GT3 in 2016. First tests of the new car will be run in Q1 2015.
BMW says “The heart of the BMW M6 GT3 is the BMW M Twin Power Turbo eight-cylinder petrol engine, which features a capacity of 4.4 liters. The engine is familiar from the production model and has been modified specifically for racing. The chassis is being optimized by hand for the specific demands of the racetrack in the BMW Motorsport workshop in Munich.”
Customers will be able to purchase the car in 2015; the date has not yet been announced. Pricing is also to be determined. The first release on the new car says “BMW Motorsport is focusing on safety, reliability and affordable running costs, to ensure that our customers can enjoy successful motorsport at the highest level with the BMW M6 GT3, without the financial burden being too great.”
The car raced by BMW Team RLL in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship series is a Z4 GTE, derived from, but not identical to, the Z4 GT3. At present, BMW has not announced that it will build a GTE version of the M6. However, BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt has told sportscar365.com that the successor to the Z4 GTE would share its platform with the new GT3 car.
Marquardt has indicated that the Z4 GTE will be run again in 2015.—Brian S. Morgan
