Official Debut: BMW 1M Coupe MotoGP Safety Car

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Official Release: BMW 1M to Serve as MotoGP Safety Car

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18.03.2011
Press Release

Munich. The motorcycle road racing world championship – or MotoGP – ranks among the world’s most popular and spectacular sporting events. The involvement of BMW M GmbH in motorcycle racing’s top-echelon event now enters its 13th year. To ensure the safety of the practice runs and the race itself, BMW M GmbH is providing the official Safety Car along with a raft of other high-performance vehicles for use by the Dorna Sports management team and IRTA officials.

At the curtain raiser on 19th March, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe will for the first time be deployed as the official Safety Car for the MotoGP events – in advance of its market launch late in April. The BMW Safety Car is a one-off built by BMW M GmbH specifically for this race series. Only the 250 kW/340 hp straight-six M TwinPower Turbo engine and the entire drivetrain were taken over unchanged from the production model.

In the interests of weight optimisation, the BMW Safety Car comes with a carbon fibre-reinforced bonnet featuring additional large air vents, as well as polycarbonate side and rear windows. A special lightweight titanium race exhaust system not only saves weight but also delivers a captivating sound for the benefit of the spectators. Complementing the discreet spoiler lip on the boot lid there is now an adjustable rear wing to provide the requisite downforce. On the Safety Car the aerodynamically honed front apron with its precisely defined air ducting, including Air Curtains, features an additional splitter integrated on the underside of the apron.

The interior of the BMW Safety Car is a model of uncompromising purism. A rollover cage bolted behind the B-pillar, the absence of rear seats, two racing bucket seats with 6-point safety belts, an M steering wheel in alcantara and a fire extinguisher are all standard in the Safety Car.

The suspension technology of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe was specially adapted for the Safety Car. Its high-performance suspension system boasts an adjustable race track set-up that includes a sports-tuned chassis in which the dampers are independently adjustable for bump and rebound. The BMW Safety Car runs on 19-inch mixed tyres measuring 255/35 at the front and 285/30 at the rear. Vehicle height is variably selectable and the camber of the front and rear axle can be altered to suit the circuit topography. The braking system of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, already designed for extremely high demands, is replaced in the Safety Car with a six-piston fixed-calliper racing brake system.

The deployment of the brand-new BMW 1 Series M Coupe Safety Car marks the continuation of BMW M GmbH’s successful partnership – begun in 1999 – with Dorna Sports, the organisers of the MotoGP World Championship. With a fleet of eight vehicles, BMW is supporting the safe running of the motorcycle world championship in the current race season. As well as the official BMW 1 Series M Coupe Safety Car, this year sees two further reserve Safety Cars from BMW M GmbH present at the track: a BMW X6 M and a BMW M3. In addition, the organising team has been given a BMW X5 M for the Safety Officer and a BMW ActiveHybrid X6 for the stewards. On call this season as a Medical Car is a BMW 535i Touring. There will also be two Safety Bikes contributing to the safe running of race weekends: a BMW S 1000 RR and a BMW HP2 Sport. The ceremonial handover of the vehicles took place at BMW M in Garching-Hochbrück on 28th February 2011. It was on this occasion that Dr Kay Segler, Director of BMW M GmbH, and Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO Dorna Sports, made an advance announcement that the successful partnership would be extended until 2016, before sealing the agreement in a signing ceremony.

Wallpapers: 1M Coupe MotorGP Safety Car

[Drillslinger]

I notice this has an "Off" button on the dash above the hazard lights. Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't that where the MDM button is on the 1M?

[iPhil]

Jizz in my pants.

[Hula-Hula]

mmmmmm Akrapovic tips

[Beemer323]

Those Recaro's look identical to the Sparco Roadster.

[as7920]

Makes the BSM 1M look puny in comparison. May change my order to AW now.

[TunedM2C]

Yeah...we finally have official BSM picks from BMW.

[EmmDrei]

Originally Posted by Drillslinger

I notice this has an "Off" button on the dash above the hazard lights. Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't that where the MDM button is on the 1M?

It activates the MDM and turns the DSC off. That's what it looks like in the production car. They just didn't write MDM on it. I would assume they're just sticking to the standard BMW buttons.

[iPhil]

Originally Posted by as7920

Makes the BSM 1M look puny in comparison. May change my order to AW now.

I don't think it's only the color that makes die BSM look puny.

[Ayrton91]

So if they made special parts for this car (hood, splitter, exhaust), would BMW sell them through their performance parts unit?

[EmmDrei]

I doubt they made special parts. The splitter and wing look like GTS parts and the hood was obviously hand-made.



Just click the URL that is stickered on the safety car: http://www.bmw-m-safetycar.com.

[as7920]

Originally Posted by EmmDrei

I doubt they made special parts. The splitter and wing look like GTS parts and the hood was obviously hand-made.



Just click the URL that is stickered on the safety car: http://www.bmw-m-safetycar.com.

Tried that a few days ago, they've updated it to coincide with the press release.

[Franklin Joseph]

bugger...this damn car is gonna cost me more money in upgrades...wish BMW can fit those black wheels on my car. I would assume splitter and wing might show up as performance parts?
The lowered suspension looks just right!

[DiavelM3]

I'm lovin those vents in the hood

[Matski]

So a 1M GTS then... kind of crazy for them not to do a limited run.

[PyratOne]

hubba-hubba.

That Mstripe is just sick. Curious about the Mcaliper, though. Anyone have any info?

If Im lucky enough to get a 1M, im going this route. AW, black rims, tinted out window, (subtle) M-stripe.

This car is a beauty

[Nate@IND]

[ES BMW]

All those mods sound like a great blueprint for a "limited and impossible to get" 1M CSL.

[positiveions]

i like the seats and the steering wheel. And love the //M logo on the calipers

[miro2296]

the exhaust looks good!!! I want to hear it!

[skyphab]

Also some great details there: Black surrounded M-Badges on the side and different brakes and caliper design

[Stratus650]

Suede steering wheel... interesting