BMW is on a roll this year at their home auto show and after the unveil of several concepts (full 2017 IAA coverage here), it is now showing us their future racing car. The BMW M8 GTE will debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018, and will join next year the FIA WEC and the IMSA series.

“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.”

Under the hood, the BMW M8 GTE features a V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, which is restricted by regulations to a capacity of 4.0 liter, and 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 power transmission in the BMW M8 GTE takes place via a sequential, six-speed racing gearbox.

A significant weight reduction in the M8 GTE 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 full details and live photos can be seen below.

[Photos: John Hietter]

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