We’ve seen the BMW M2 Competition in track action several times. Well, it hasn't always been in a good shape, but we know it’s a pretty capable and potent hot hatch. Now BMW has announced it will take the model to the race track officially in the form of a brand new race car for “grassroots motorsport and clubracing.”

The new vehicle’s race debut is scheduled for August 3 this year (this coming weekend) with BMW Motorsport Junior, Beitske Visser, and Jörg Weidinger, test and development engineer at BMW M, behind the wheel. The motorsport christening of the M2 Competition race car will be during the Nurburgring Nordschleife race of the VLN Endurance Championship.

Gallery: BMW M2 Competition teaser images

It’s important to note that the six-hour race is part of the car’s test phase, which so far has included tests at Miramas and Portimão in the past few months. The prototype will run the Nurburgring race with a camouflage livery and the main goal for the team will be “to put the car through another tough test under the extreme conditions faced during a race on the most demanding racetrack in the world."

The first customer deliveries are planned for the second quarter of 2020, just in time for the next racing season. The M2 Competition race car will be available in two versions – Racing and Clubsport, with a Permit B variant also in the cards for use on the Nordschleife within the VLN.

BMW explains the focus during the car’s development process was on “simple handling for everyone” at the highest possible technical quality and maximum safety. Simply put, the new race car from the Bavarian company, a successor to the M240i Racing, will be positioned as an entry-level model for motor racing with an appeal to amateur racing drivers.

Hide press release Show press release

Munich. A few weeks ago, BMW M Motorsport presented its future plans for customer racing and announced a new entry-level model for grassroots motorsport and clubracing based on the BMW M2 Competition (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 10.0–9.8*; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 227–224*) . On 3rd August 2019 it will make its race debut on the Nordschleife within the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring (GER). At the wheel will be BMW Motorsport Junior Beitske Visser (NED) and Jörg Weidinger (GER), test and development engineer at BMW M GmbH and himself a very successful BMW Sports Trophy competitor for many years. 

The car will be run by BMW Motorsport and will sport a special camouflage livery in the 6-hour race. The goal is to put the car through another tough test under the extreme conditions faced during a race on the most demanding racetrack in the world and, in doing so, prepare it optimally for its outings in the hands of customers from next season. The first cars are scheduled to be delivered to customers in the second quarter of 2020.

The race on the Nordschleife is the next step in the intense test phase. The new car has already completed successful tests at Miramas (FRA) and Portimão (POR) in recent weeks and months. There will be a Racing and a Clubsport variant of the new entry-level model for motor racing, to appeal to more potential amateur racing drivers than with its predecessor, the BMW M240i Racing. A Permit B version of the car is planned for use on the Nordschleife within the VLN.

The focus of the car’s development was on simple handling for everyone – whilst at the same time ensuring the highest possible technical quality and maximum safety. The race car can be used in many different fields of motorsport.