► BMW’s new entry-level race car
► Promises friendly but fun racing
► Designed to be highly cost-effective
This is BMW M Motorsport’s new entry-level, factory-built race car, the BMW M2 Racing. It’s the first rung on a ladder that could conceivably take a talented driver through GT4 and GT3 to Le Mans Hypercars. And it’s powered by a four-cylinder engine. Wait, what? The road-going M2 has a six-cylinder engine, so why does the racing version have two fewer pots?
It’s all about costs
Believe it or not, racing drivers are extremely cost-conscious, especially at the level the BMW M2 Racing is pitched at. Having loads of power is all very well, but it necessitates heavy-duty running gear that bumps up the car’s purchase price and costs more to replace. Big power burns through fuel and tyres more quickly, as well. Add it all together and a six-cylinder M2 Racing would be financially unviable.
With a significantly less powerful four-banger, much of the M2’s standard running gear can be retained. That reduces purchase and running costs to a level that won’t make your wallet explode. Within a motorsport context, at least. Racing’s never cheap.
How much power does it have, then?
The engine is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged B48 unit found in the BMW 230, lightly breathed on to produce 313hp and 310lb/ft of torque. That’s channelled to the rear wheels via a seven-speed ZF torque converter automatic gearbox with BMW M Motorsport’s own software. The 0-62mph time isn’t quoted, but a top speed of 168mph is. At 1500kg, it’s hefty for a race car but over 200kg lighter than the M2 road car.
So why isn’t this the 230 Racing?
The M2 Racing uses the same wide-arch bodyshell and bumpers as the road-going M2. It also uses many of the same brake and suspension components, though the discs, pads, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars have been replaced with race-grade items.
Elsewhere, there’s a full FIA-spec rollcage, seat and fuel cell, lightweight roof panel, quick-release bonnet and boot, and a plumbed-in fire extinguisher. It rolls on 10×18-inch forged alloy wheels with Goodyear tyres. There are race-tuned drive modes and 10-stage ABS. It even has aircon. Uniquely in the world of factory race cars, the M2 Racing will be built on the Mexico production line alongside every other 2 Series model.
The whole package is designed so that the car is friendly to novice drivers, but can still be really quick in experienced hands. BMW works GT3 driver Jens Klingmann has been involved in the car’s development. He said: “Our focus was on ensuring that the BMW M2 Racing, with its combination of intuitive and predictable drivability and strong performance, is exactly the right car for all users, from the inexperienced participant at a track day to an ambitious racer. I am very satisfied with the result and convinced that buyers will have a lot of fun with the car.”
Where can you race the M2 Racing?
Pretty much anywhere that will accept a production-based, 2.0-litre turbo, rear-wheel-drive coupe. And that’s a lot of series. BMW highlights the Nurburgring Endurance Series – including the Nurburgring 24 Hours – the Crevetic 24H Series, TC France, the Benelux-based Belcar series and the Dutch Supercar Challenge.
In the UK, you could run it Britcar and GT Cup, plus loads of lower-level club racing series. Trackdays, hillclimbs and sprints are in the mix, as well. Indeed, there’s so much you could do with the M2 Racing that it’d be possible to race one somewhere in the UK every weekend from April to October.
Anything else I need to know?
This is actually the fourth generation of 2 Series-based race car. The first three were based on the F22-gen 2 Series; the M235i Racing was launched in 2014 and followed by the M240i Racing and M2 CS Racing. Though there was a one-make series, endurance racing became the cars’ prime stomping ground; there’s even a dedicated class for them in the Nurburgring Endurance Series.
How much is an M2 Racing going to cost me?
The BMW M2 Racing costs 98,000 euros before options and taxes. Well, we said motorsport isn’t cheap. Still, go endurance racing and you can spread the cost across multiple drivers. And it’s less than half the price of the next-rung-up BMW M4 GT4 Evo. It’ll be available through selected BMW M Motorsport dealers who start taking orders in June for delivery ahead of the 2026 racing season.