BMW M4 GT4 Makes North American Debut at Watkins Glen International During Sahlen’s Six Hours Of The Glen Weekend
 |
“BMW of North America has received great amount of interest in the M4 GT4 from our customer racing teams,” said Victor Leleu, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager. “We wanted to show the car in the States at the earliest possible opportunity. The M4 GT4 was designed and constructed to allow BMW customer racing teams to successfully compete in an increasing number of series that have embraced the GT4 specification, among them the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.”
The BMW M4 GT4 has carbon- fiber doors, motorsport-specific front splitters and rear wings, and a racing exhaust system. The seat, brakes and pedal box make use of solutions that are also included in the top model in customer racing, the BMW M6 GT3. The interior concept is designed entirely for the comfort of the driver, so that he or she can focus fully on driving. The BMW engineers went in a totally new direction in terms of engine control software. The BMW M4 GT4 is the first BMW Motorsport car to be fitted with power sticks, which come pre-programmed by BMW Motorsport with different engine performance levels. Thanks to the system, which has been approved by the SRO Motorsports Group and is well protected against manipulation, Plug-and-Play gives BMW Motorsport customers the ability to react quickly and flexibly to changes to the Balance of Performance in various races. In recent months, the BMW M4 GT4 has been tested by many BMW works drivers, BMW Juniors and customer racing drivers at various racetracks, with different tire types and in a wide range of external conditions. The purpose of this testing was to adapt all the technical applications, such as the DSC stability system and ABS, to meet the demands of motor racing in as much detail as possible. The car has already proven its reliability and performance in races on the Nordschleife and at the 24 Hours of Dubai (UAE).
Technical Data of the BMW M4 GT4: Dimensions
Length excl. splitter: | 4,671 mm |
Length incl. splitter: | 4,750 mm |
Width excl. mirrors: | 1,877 mm |
Width incl. mirrors: | 2,014 mm |
Height: | 1,369 mm variable |
Wheelbase: | 2,812 mm |
Engine
Type: | Six-cylinder in-line, four valves |
Technology: | M TwinPower turbo technology, direct injection, Valvetronic |
Capacity: | 2,979 cc |
Output: | More than 425 hp (depending on balance of performance) |
Engine management: | Production engine electronics – output via power stick can be adjusted according to defined BoP |
Exhaust system: | Motorsport-specific lightweight exhaust system |
Tank
- FT3 fuel cell
- Capacity: 125 liters (depending on regulations)
Chassis
- Chassis with DMSB-certified welded safety roll cage (compliant with FIA regulations), manufactured by BMW Motorsport
- Roof, doors and hood made from CFRP
- Makrolon® discs (heated front disc)
- Motorsport front splitters made from CFRP
- Motorsport rear wing made from CFRP, customizable
- Motorsport dive plane made from CFRP
- Air jack system
- Hood and trunk lid quick-release lock
- Lightweight motorsport wiring harness
Suspension
- Motorsport-specific control connections
- Adjustable motorsport stabilizers front and rear
- Specially adapted motorsport shock absorbers (Öhlins) front and rear
- Springs, each with three spring rates for the front and rear axle available
Transmission
- 7-gear dual clutch transmission with motorsport software
- Mechanical differential lock with separate cooling
- Purpose-built output shafts with wheel bearings adapted for motorsport (rear axle)
Drivers Aids
- Stability systems specifically adapted for BMW Motorsport (DSC/ABS)
Wheels/Tires
- 11 x 18 inch alloy wheels
- Tire dimensions: 300/660 R18* as delivered (*depending on manufacturer)
Brakes
- 6-piston, fixed caliper front, AP Racing
- Diameter of brake disks: 390 mm
- 4-piston, fixed caliper rear, AP Racing
- Diameter of brake disks: 355 mm
- Balance beams for adjusting the brake balance at the front and rear
- Double-suction brake air cooling
BMW of North America’s customer racing program supports privateer BMW drivers across North America with racing cars, engineering, parts and contingency. During 2016, BMW NA supported the M235i Racing, BMW Z4 GT3 and BMW M6 GT3 platforms. BMW M4 GT4 inquiries should be made to M4GT4@bmw-motorsport.com
BMW of North America Customer Racing
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since
1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in
2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include
marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW
brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and
the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic
design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon
Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW
Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global
manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all
X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity
Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S.
through networks of 342 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle centers, 152 BMW motorcycle retailers, 127 MINI passenger car
dealers, and 36 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding
Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is
located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
