BMW is working on a new generation of its entry-level racing car based on the M2 coupe, and prototypes are currently being evaluated, including in the grueling Nürburgring Endurance Series races.
One of the prototypes, still wearing camouflage equipment, was photographed during its participation in a four-hour race held over the weekend in The smaller Nürburgring Grand Prix trackwhich in the past hosted the Formula 1 German Grand Prix.
The car was fielded by BMW customer team FK Performance Motorsport and driven by Max Hesse and Jens Klingmann under difficult weather conditions. They managed to complete the race without any problems.
BMW first announced plans for the new racing car in August and confirmed it will be introduced in time for the 2026 motorsport season. There’s a chance it could be closely aligned with an upcoming M2 CS road carprototypes for which they were tested.
2026 racing car prototype based on the BMW M2 at Nürburgring – Photo via Baldauf
The new racing car is the successor to the M235i Racing, M240i Racing and M2 CS Racing launched in the previous decade and, like the previous cars, the new one will be part of BMW’s customer racing program. In the US, a popular series for entry-level BMW drivers is the TC America series.
Previous cars were costs around $100,000positioning them as an excellent entry point for drivers preparing for higher-level – and much more expensive – GT4 and GT3 class cars. The new model is expected to follow a similar pricing strategy.
BMW has not released details about the car. Its M2 road car counterpart was I just updated to 2025 with an extra 20 hp, bringing the power of the car’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 to 473 hp. The race car must bear a similar number.