This year, teams participating in the European GT4 Series will get challenged by a new rival, the BMW M4 GT4. Just like its brother, the E92 M3 GT4, the M4 has to abide by the set of rules everyone has to follow in this racing series and that, unfortunately, means it has to cut back on its power. Believe it or not, the regulations put in place for this championship require the stock engine on the M4 to cut back on its torque. The standard S55 unit makes 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque but has to be limited, for GT4 racing purposes to a maximum of 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) of torque. The power output is also limited to a maximum of 430 HP which is fine since the M4 only makes 425 HP in standard guise anyway.
The Ekris M4 GT4 also has to follow a certain set of rules regarding other aspects of its potential on the track, including the exhaust that mustn’t be too loud. For example, the car has to be fitted with a welded roll cage that falls in line with the latest FIA standards and needs to have a fire extinguishing system on board. Other than that, it’s almost open season for performance-enhancing upgrades.
CFRP has been extensively used in the making on the car, the doors and driver crash pad being made of the lightweight material with the screen are made of polycarbonate, to weigh as little as possible. The drivetrain uses a manual BMW 6-speed gearbox with Power Blip and active oil cooling in standard guise. However, you can also fit the M4 GT4 with a sequential 6-speed gearbox or a specially developed pneumatic paddle shift system. The mechanical limited slip differential and Sinter clutch come as standard.
As far as the suspension goes, the chassis received 2-way adjustable Bilstein shock absorbers while the electromechanical power assisted steering is adjustable to the driver’s needs. Six piston Monobloc racing brake calipers and 378 mm discs up front with 4-piston 355 mm disks at the back help stop this beast, hidden behind BBS 18-inch wheels.
Let’s see the M4 GT4 on track.
