BMW M2 MotoGP Safety Car, you'll forget about the motorbikes

BMW has been in charge of the Safety Car for the world MotoGP championship for many years, the top competition in the world of motorcycle racing.

The previous two seasons the chosen car was an M4, which has now given way to the latest addition to the ///M family, the small but tough M2.

With the launch of the M2, the people behind BMW have decided to give it a chance as Safety Car, which will also serve as a springboard to becoming much better known thanks to the huge audience figures this competition attracts.

As we mentioned earlier, the “job” of Safety Car was given to the M4 Coupé over the last two seasons. Some voices have even suggested that in the 2016 season the task could go to the M4 GTS, the hardcore version of the M4 Coupé, which we told you about here a few weeks ago.

However, it seems that the boys from Bavaria have finally decided that the baby of the ///M range should take on this role. To do so, the M2 has been through the workshops of the brand’s official tuner to get it up to speed, carrying out numerous modifications that turn it into a unit that could perfectly well compete in practically any official championship.

On the outside, the changes are mostly cosmetic. The Safety Car is painted in Alpine White, fitted with M Performance bumpers and carbon-fibre mirror caps. The wheels have been through the paint shop and now show a very eye-catching golden finish. At the rear, the most striking feature is the huge manually adjustable spoiler built in carbon fibre. There are also light indicators on both the roof and the bumpers. In addition, the M2 Safety Car comes with M Performance suspension springs and Michelin Sport Cup track tyres.

This model replaces the M4 Coupé that has been doing the Safety Car job for the last two seasons

Inside, the changes are more technical. Much of the trim has been removed to make room in the cabin for a large roll cage painted in the same golden tone as the wheels. A large control panel has also been added to operate the light indicators. The standard seats have been replaced by two carbon-fibre bucket seats upholstered in Alcantara and signed by Recaro.

Mechanically, the M2 Safety Car does not differ from a road-going M2. It keeps the same 3.0 twin-turbo six-cylinder in-line engine, producing 365 CV, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, and its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

Source | BMW