BMW M3 (E92) American Le Mans Series (ALMS) 2009

[B]BMW RETURNS TO ALMS WITH THE LATEST GENERATION BMW M3[/B]
02/06/2008

BMW of North America to partner with Rahal Letterman Racing for 2009 season

Chicago, IL/Woodcliff Lake, NJ - February 6, 2008... BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) beginning in 2009. The car is based on the fourth generation of the BMW M3, the high-performance sports car produced by BMW M GmbH.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen says: "With the sporting genes of the production BMW M3 being clearly evident, developing a racing version of the car was the next logical step. The fact that the road-going vehicle is fitted with a V8 engine as standard provided us with an ideal base. However, the BMW M3 is more than a race car, it has achieved legendary status amongst race fans across the globe. I am convinced that this unique story of the BMW M3 racing cars will now be expanded upon by the addition of further chapters."

BMW's 2009 entry into the American Le Mans Series will be driven by a partnership between BMW of North America, LLC and Rahal Letterman Racing, co-owned by US motorsport legend Bobby Rahal.

"We are very pleased to be returning to the American Le Mans Series with our latest generation BMW M3," states Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW of North America. "Sports car racing has been part of BMW of North America's history practically from day one. Just two weeks after the company was incorporated in March 1975, a BMW CSL won the Twelve Hours of Sebring. We are confident that the fourth generation M3 will continue the legacy of its two predecessors which combined to win six manufacturer's championships over nine seasons in US sports car racing. As it has been in the past we believe the ALMS is the ideal venue to showcase the potential of the newest BMW M3."

Echoing that sentiment Bobby Rahal adds, "BMW has an illustrious racing heritage. Rahal Letterman Racing is eagerly anticipating, not only becoming part of that heritage, but helping to enhance it. Our dedication to this project will be without equal and we look forward to racing at the front of the grid with BMW in the years to come."
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[B]Technical Specifications BMW M3 Race Version.
[/B]

Weight: 2,535 lbs./1150 kg
Tank capacity: 29 gallons/110 Liters
Chassis/body: Unitary construction steel body with welded safety cell made of extremely rigid precision steel tubing; safety fuel tank in CRP sandwich tray; pneumatic four-stamp jack system

Aerodynamics: Front fenders, rear apron, hood, roof, trunk lid, rear wing, front wings, and flared rear wheel arches in CRP

Transmission: Carbon fiber clutch with hydraulic central slave cylinder;
6-speed sequential racing transmission with straight-cut, unsynchronized gears;
additional oil/air cooler; quick shift system with ignition cut-out controlled by shifting force; mechanical limited slip differential with additional oil/air cooler

Front axle: Based on production version, with increased wheel caster angle, enlarged track width and enhanced wheel camber; five-way adjustable shock absorbers; tubular stabilizer bar

Rear axle: Based on production version, with enlarged track width and enhanced wheel camber; five-way adjustable shock absorbers, tubular stabilizer bar

Front brake system: Six-piston aluminum brake calipers, inner-vented grey-cast iron brake disks 15.0 in./380mm in diameter
Rear brake system: Four-piston aluminum brake calipers, grey-cast iron brake disk, 13.1 in./332mm in diameter
Steering: Rack and pinion steering with electro-hydraulic power
Wheels: Aluminum wheels, 18 inches


[B]BMW P65 Engine.
[/B]
Type: Eight cylinder, V-configuration

Capacity: 3999 cc
Bore x stroke: 92 x 75.2 mm/3.62 x 2.96 in.
Max. output: approx. 485 bhp
Max. torque: approx. 368 lb-ft/500 Nm
Cylinder block: Aluminum cylinder block construction with bed plate lower section
Crankshaft: Steel crankshaft
Pistons: Forged skirt pistons
Conrods: High-performance steel
Cylinder head: Aluminum DOHC (Double Over Head
Camshaft); four valves per cylinder
Valve train: Four overhead chain-driven camshafts, valve actuation via rocker arms
Intake system: Eight throttle valves, made of CRP with load-charge optimized ram tubes
Exhaust system: Headers, mufflers
Fuel system: Single cylinder multi-point injection
Lubrication: Dry sump lubrication
Cooling: Water/air cooler and oil/water heat exchanger

thats very hot.....

Well i like the front, i think it looks much more purposeful than the E46 GTR, but the rear?? what the hell is going on with those vents at the back?? Still cant argue with the fact that, on paper, it looks like it will be highly competitive as the E46 was.

[QUOTE=RacingManiac;782349]thats very hot.....[/QUOTE]

Ditto that.

[QUOTE=Dantera22B;782351]Well i like the front, i think it looks much more purposeful than the E46 GTR, but the rear?? what the hell is going on with those vents at the back?? Still cant argue with the fact that, on paper, it looks like it will be highly competitive as the E46 was.[/QUOTE]

Brake cooling ducts?

The hot air from the brakes needs to escape somewhere, but the main reason for those vents will be to extract the high pressure air from the wheel arch, which slows the flow running down the side of the car. I find it interesting that there is no apparent diffuser, I suspect that white flat floor at the rear is either missing strakes, or a dummy until the car hits the grid.

Damn sexy looking car though!! Wonder if they'll do a GTR Strassenversion (spelling?) like they did with the E46.

[QUOTE=Dantera22B;782351]Well i like the front, i think it looks much more purposeful than the E46 GTR, but the rear?? what the hell is going on with those vents at the back?? Still cant argue with the fact that, on paper, it looks like it will be highly competitive as the E46 was.[/QUOTE]

I didn't think the GTR was competitive at all.

[QUOTE=RenesisEvo;782387]Damn sexy looking car though!! Wonder if they'll do a GTR Strassenversion (spelling?) like they did with the E46.[/QUOTE]
Probably not since the standard car already has the V8.
[QUOTE=Kitdy;782399]I didn't think the GTR was competitive at all.[/QUOTE]
It was so competitive they banned it.

[QUOTE=Ferrer;782400]It was so competitive they banned it.[/QUOTE]

In what series? They got eaten by GT3s in the ALMS.

EDIT:

Just did some investigating. They were banned with good reason - the early GTRs were in violation of the spirit of the rules with V8s.l

That being said, the works BMW team managed to beat privateer Porsches even when they ran with I6s in 2001.

Have they banned rear diffuser in ALMS for 2009? Because I doubt this design is better than one with rear diffuser like the DBR9

My new background. I am so excited to see it on the track.

[QUOTE=mikelzapi3;782416]Have they banned rear diffuser in ALMS for 2009? Because I doubt this design is better than one with rear diffuser like the DBR9[/QUOTE]


Different class, DBR9s are for GT1 class, with the C6.R Vette and such, whereas this is for GT2, with the GT3 RSRs and F430 GT....

F430 GT, GT3 RSR don't have a "real" rear diffuser either, just an up swept engine bottom cover that's kinda like what the BMW has....

I want this in black.. would look positively scary on a highway.

[QUOTE]Different class[/QUOTE] Thank you, I thought all production based cars competed in the same class...So I would like to see a GT1 class M3, it would be interesting

Nice, good to see BMW re-entering into the ALMS.

[QUOTE=whiteballz;782425]I want this in black.. would look positively scary on a highway.[/QUOTE]

seconded. hopefully the csl takes some cues from this.

[QUOTE=clutch-monkey;782440]seconded. hopefully the csl takes some cues from this.[/QUOTE]

They better make a CSL.

Be afraid Porsche 911 GT3, be very afraid. I predict domination.

[QUOTE=NicFromLA;782470]Be afraid Porsche 911 GT3, be very afraid. I predict domination.[/QUOTE]

Better than the F430 GT2?

[QUOTE=Kitdy;782445]They better make a CSL.[/QUOTE]

agreed, they need to have at least one appealing model in their entire line up

[QUOTE=Kitdy;782445]They better make a CSL.[/QUOTE]

They are, i've read it somewhere... sorry i can't give you more details.

The GT2 class is getting very interesting with Porsche, Ferrari, Aston, BMW, Spyker, Panoz and Chevrolet if they develop that Corvette...

BMW M3 ALMS #2

From Jalopnik

Bmw M3 ALMS #3

very good detail of the hood´s air scoops, and the interior (very neat for a racing car!!!).
should an incredible racing car following the footsteps of of the previous m3 gtr, only this time they should have no problem with the rules :P

[QUOTE=Fuerte100;782418]My new background. I am so excited to see it on the track.[/QUOTE]

My new background. I am so excited to [B]HEAR[/B] it on the track.

Thats an awesome car, bring on 2009. Should make to ALMS even better.

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