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Technology meets tradition: BMW Motorsport presents the BMW
M8 GTE at the IAA in Frankfurt. -
Innovative, cutting-edge technology makes the BMW M8 GTE the
top BMW model in international GT racing. -
The BMW M8 GTE to revive the successful history of BMW at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Frankfurt. BMW Motorsport presented its new top-of-the-range
model for the international GT racing scene at the International
Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main: the BMW M8 GTE. Before the
BMW 8 Series Coupé goes on sale, the race car will compete on the
track next season, including in the FIA World Endurance Championship
(FIA WEC). It is with this series that BMW Motorsport will also make
its return to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). As such, the BMW
M8 GTE will be associated with both innovative, cutting-edge
technology and decades of motorsport tradition. At the IAA, the new
car was on display in a BMW M Motorsport livery, designed especially
for this occasion, providing a visual taste of things to come in
2018. It reflects the close relationship between the development of
production vehicles and motorsport, and once again underlines the
degree, to which BMW Motorsport and BMW M belong together.
The BMW M8 GTE enjoyed a successful roll-out on
1st July 2017 at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing (GER) – the
very place where the production model of the new BMW 8 Series will be
manufactured. The close link between production and motor racing is
one of the cornerstones of the development of the BMW M8 GTE. The
knowledge gained from race outings with the new car in the FIA WEC and
the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) in North America
will be directly incorporated in the development of the production
model, which is running parallel to the motorsport project.
“The BMW M8 GTE is our new GT flagship and will go head to head
with the strong opposition in this sector,” said BMW Motorsport
Director Jens Marquardt. “For us, the presentation of the
uncamouflaged car at the IAA is the next important step on the road to
our first race outing, which we plan to be the 24 Hours of Daytona in
2018. The FIA WEC and the IMSA series in North America are a top
competitive environment for our new challenger. With the BMW M8 GTE,
we are bringing cutting-edge technology to the top international class
of GT racing, whilst at the same time tying in with our tradition at
Le Mans. The development of the BMW M8 GTE is on schedule, and we can
hardly wait to see the car challenging for victories in 2018.”
A new degree of efficiency.
The V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, which is
restricted by regulations to a capacity of 4.0 litres, has a nominal
base output of more than 500 hp, depending on the classification. The
cylinder block and cylinder head are taken from the production engine
and are produced in the light alloy foundry at the BMW Group
plant in Landshut (GER). The focus of the development work is on
achieving the greatest possible efficiency and maximum durability. The
powerful production engine provides the perfect basis. The power
transmission in the BMW M8 GTE takes place via a sequential, six-speed
racing gearbox.
Artificial intelligence gives engineers greater freedom.
“Virtual development” plays a central role in the development of
the BMW M8 GTE. For example, the traction control is being developed
with the assistance of an artificial intelligence system. Topology
optimisation with 3D printing gives the engineers far greater freedom
in their search for innovative and creative solutions for the design
of the car. Rapid prototyping also allows them to take delivery of a
new part, as a usable prototype, just 24 hours after the virtual development.
Motor racing and production go hand in hand – design similarities.
Racing and production engineers closely worked together within
the framework of the BMW M8 GTE project. For instance, consistent
lightweight design also plays a crucial role in the development of the
new GT sports car. A significant weight reduction is achieved through
the extensive use of ultra-light CFRP components. At a length of 4,980
mm and a width of 2,046 mm, the car weighs just 1,220 kilograms. The
design of the BMW M8 GTE also reflects the close relationship to the
BMW 8 Series and the BMW M8. This is particularly apparent in the same
roof line and the design of the front and rear lights.
Peak performance in aerodynamics development.
Work on the aerodynamics of a new race car is as time-consuming
as it is indispensable. As such, it is all the more important for the
BMW engineers to be able to work on the chassis of the BMW M8 GTE with
maximum efficiency from the outset. A new algorithm allows a
significant increase in CFD calculations, thus making it possible to
use greater computing power to clearly increase the number of possible
simulations, before progressing to the wind tunnel. Here, BMW
Motorsport uses synergies with production development and benefits
from the perfect test conditions in the BMW Group Aero Lab. One of the
results of the aero development is innovative aero rims, which will be
presented as a concept at the IAA.
Latest 3D measurement technology in use.
The close interdependence between production and motorsport
development continues in another two important areas: the same 3D
measurement technology that was used on the BMW M4 DTM, which made its
first race outing in 2017, is also used on the BMW M8 GTE. The
ultra-modern measurement system from the BMW production development
department provides the perfect quality control once the race car has
been assembled. With such a complex car as the BMW M8 GTE, which is
built completely by hand, it is essential that all the dimensions are
correctly adhered to and implemented.
Long history of BMW Motorsport in Le Mans.
BMW Motorsport returns to Le Mans with the FIA WEC in 2018. The
last time a BMW race car featured on the grid was back in 2011, with
the BMW M3 GT2. One year prior to that, the Jeff Koons’ (USA) BMW M3
GT2 Art Car had caught the eye, as it wrote the latest chapter in the
story of the BMW Art Car Collection at Le Mans. Among the BMW Art Cars
that had started previously at Le Mans were Alexander Calder’s (USA,
1975) BMW 3.0 CSL, the BMW 320i designed by Roy Lichtenstein (USA,
1977) and Andy Warhol’s (USA, 1979) BMW M1.
BMW
Motorsport’s greatest sporting hour in Le Mans came in 1999, when
Yannick Dalmas (FRA), Joachim Winkelhock (GER) and Pierluigi Martini
(ITA) took overall victory in a BMW V12 LMR. The McLaren F1 GTR,
powered by a BMW engine, had previously triumphed at the “Circuit de
la Sarthe” in 1995.
The first time a BMW car started at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans was back in 1939, when a BMW 328 claimed a
class victory after 236 laps of racing. After 1972, BMW cars regularly
lined up at the endurance classic.
BMW M8 GTE: Technical Details.
Dimensions
Length without rear wing: 4,980 mm
Width
without mirrors: 2,046 mm
Width with
mirrors: 2,224
mm
Height: 1,212 mm
(variable)
Wheelbase: 2,880 mm
Engine
Model: V8 engine with
BMW TwinPower Turbo
Technology
Capacity: 3,981
cc
Number of cylinders: 8
V
angle: 90°
Bore:
89
mm
Stroke: 80 mm
Cylinder
spacing: 98 mm
Engine
speed: approx. 7,000 rpm
Body
• Composite body with carbon core and
DMSB-approved safety roll cage
• CFRP outer shell with
quick-change concept
Chassis
• Double wishbones on front and rear
axle
• Four-way adjustable shock absorbers at front and
rear
• Anti-roll bars with quick adjustment
Power Transmission
• Six-speed sequential motorsport
gearbox
• Electric paddle shift system
•
Limited slip differential
• CFRP drive shaft
•
Sachs carbon-fibre clutch
Electronics
• BMW Motorsport in-house developed software
functions for engine, gearbox and
driver
assistance
• Steering wheel with 16 buttons and seven
dials
• Rear-view camera system with object
recognition
• High-performance headlights with OSRAM LED
elements
• Live telemetry system for vehicle monitoring
Wheels/Tyres
• BMW Aero rims: 12.5×18 inch on the front axle,
13×18 inch on the rear axle
• Michelin tyres: 30/68 R18 on
the front axle, 31/71 R18 on the rear axle