Unlike before, where MotoGP safety cars were regular BMW M cars with bolt-on modifications, the new 2022 MotoGP season will see something much more special – an M2 CS Racing race car. BMW M cars have been used as MotoGP Safety Cars for the past 24 years.
“BMW M has been our partner since 1999 and, over the course of this long-term collaboration, has always thrilled us with new highlights,” said Dorna Sports, MotoGP rights holder.
For the first time, a purpose-built race car will be used to lead the pack of two-wheeled racers in the upcoming 2022 season which begins on the 6th of March with the Grand Prix of Qatar.
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“M stands for Motorsport so we’ve selected a race car from our BMW M Motorsport range to be the new MotoGP Safety Car – an appropriate choice to mark the 50th anniversary of M,” said CEO of M, Franciscus van Meel.
On the performance front, the M2 CS Racing gets the same engine from the M2 Competition – a 3.0-litre straight-six engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox – with 450 hp and 550 Nm. All that, is funneled solely to the rear wheels, imagine that.
Noteworthy features on the M2 CS Racing includes ZF Sachs race suspension, a carbon roof, custom driveshafts, motorsport software for the transmission, alongside light bars specifically for its role as the MotoGP safety car.
The livery of the new BMW M2 CS Racing MotoGP Safety Cars is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of BMW M and is also based on the anniversary logo of BMW M.
Apart from the M2 CS Racing, other models from the BMW M fleet to be featured as safety cars in the 2022 MotoGP season includes the M3 Competition, M4 Competition, M4 Competition, M5 CS and the M8 Gran Coupe Competition, X5 M and two BMW M 1000 RR bikes.
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