VectorGuy

Hot from todays Autoweek is the announcement that the LeMans organizers require BMW to build 100 street cars before allowing the M3 GTR to run at Sebring, '02. BMW is crying that it is impossible. Finally, justice is served, and ruling shutting down dominance via loopholes is closed up. The cars may still run under waivers, carrying significant weight and HP penalties.
This will be interesting to see what develops.
Sorry if it is off topic, but I feel it's great news to anyone who wants to see Porsche more competitive in racing, not being trounced in "production based" race series' by cars that have no near relative on the streets. IF BMW does put that race bred V8 in some street M3's, then we'll have something interesting.

PS..anyone need some black alloy lug nuts, OEM, priced right?

rpm's S2

The January Road & Track details the production M3 GTR

Riff

Not knowing the rules governing the GTR class, but would the V8 be allowed in a 5 series body? Back in the late 80's early 90's Audi did quite well (championship) in the Trans-Am series with 200 based sedans. Granted the cars were quattro, but not full tube frame jobbers. Any preclusion to BMW switching to the M5???

deni durrell

i feel that this is significant news. they (bmw) *were* planning on producing those v8 cars, but it was going to take time to build them (done by hand). have you seen the CSL? even thought it was supposedly concept, i believe they were supposed to be around $220-280K!! and mostly carbon fibre. i follow alms for porsche and bmw, and while those m3s are awesome cars, it was quite obvious when they first cars that took positions 1, 2, 3, and 4 were always the m3s. I saw them in person at laguna seca *and* sears point, in which they won class both times.

racing and racing r&d is the heart of porsche. too bad most here don't know that (+ quite possibly the factory?).. has this has been addressed from another post?.

keith

If Porsche would get its head in the game, we wouldn't have to worry about crying "foul" at BMW's good ideas.

deni durrell

riff: the 5 series bodies would be too heavy. there are weight requirements that must be abided to.

more OT , but I love bmw (just as much as our p-cars!): another reference for the v8 m3 csl is from "Bimmer Magazine", page 12, Dec 01, from the Frankfurt Autoshow 2001.

Riff

Deni-

Noted that there are weight reqs. but aren't they based on engine displacment or something, not the body type. I would think that the cars are built to the minimum weight allowed for the car. If the Bimmer V8 has an associated min. weight, then it wouldn't matter if they used the M5 body or the M3 in regards to weight as they would weight the same. Now if the suspension pick-up points were fixed based on the body, this would make a difference.

Oh and Keith, Porsche would have certainly followed BMW's lead through the loophole and stuffed the V8 from the SUV in the back of the 996. They just never had a "production" engine ready.

keith

that's what I'm saying. Porsche used to rule the loopholes.

deni durrell

i think if they were to use the m5, it would be considered an entirely different class - still. plus wouldn't it signify defeat and that bmw motorsport were giving up ( the changing of the coupe to a four door)? the m5 is already a v8 that puts out 400hp and is definitley waaaay heavier. i don't know specs (both m5 and alms/le mans rules) have to check my "world fact finder search tool interface" (a web browser) to verify.

jim968

So Porsche gets a fair shake at continuing to win, but also has one less incentive to continue to evolve their racing program... sounds like a mixed blessing to me.

Jim, was that blessing shaken or stirred?

deni durrell

LOL!!! good one jim.

Lemon Yellow 87 n/a

Damn Jim, both witty and insightful. How long do you have to think before posting? (Just joking, your afterthoughts are always cool)