The BMW M8 Safety Car makes its debut in MotoGP

The new BMW M8 MotoGP Safety Car made its debut last weekend at the motorcycle world championship.

The MotoGP world championship welcomes a new safety car: the BMW M8 MotoGP Safety Car. Based on the Competition version, its 625 horsepower will ensure safety at every round of the championship calendar.

The BMW M8 MotoGP Safety Car made its first appearance last weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, held at the Red Bull Ring. The German manufacturer has been collaborating with Dorna since 1999, providing its most sporting vehicles to act as Safety Car in the same way that the Mercedes-Benz GT-R does in Formula 1. However, the BMW i8 Roadster is the Safety Car in Formula E, so the brand is also present in motorsport.

Markus Flesh, president of BMW M, stated: “The BMW M8 and the BM2 M8 GTE were developed in parallel, so the competition genes of this model are clear. For this reason, it was logical to choose the BMW M8 Competition as the basis for our new Safety Car for MotoGP. Even in its production version, our model is suited to delivering maximum performance on track.”

625 horsepower to tame the 250 of MotoGP

Under the bonnet of the BMW M8 MotoGP Safety Car sits the most powerful engine developed by the brand’s motorsport department. This twin-turbo V8 produces no less than 625 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

The formula for perfectly combining power, chassis and aerodynamics was refined after several intensive tests at the test track BMW has in Miramas (France), Sweden and the Nürburgring.

Moreover, the advantage of having the BMW M8 GTE competing in the World Endurance Championship is that the production model benefits from the competition model’s experience to optimise its behaviour. Thanks to all this, the BMW M8 Competition delivers breathtaking performance, reaching 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds.

However, the BMW M8 Competition that served as the starting point had to go through the Garching factory to become the MotoGP Safety Car. In this process, a considerable number of parts were added, most of which are available in the production model’s catalogue. In addition, specific elements were fitted to improve its behaviour on track, along with all the necessary safety equipment.

What is fitted to the BMW M8 MotoGP Safety Car?

The exhaust system has been revised, so the entire run is titanium and ends in carbon-fibre tailpipes. Elements such as the engine cover, the rear diffuser and the skirts are also made of this material. In addition, as a safety car it needs a LED light bar mounted on the roof and flashing LED lights in the grille.

The interior has also been lightened and prepared for its exclusive use on track, so it features Recaro bucket seats with five-point harnesses, a roll cage and a fire extinguisher. The wheels are also shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres.

Therefore, the BMW M8 MotoGP Safety Car now looks after the safety of riders in all three categories of the MotoGP World Championship. Who would have been its driver…