The work may be hard and long at the “Green Hell,” as BMW Motorsport prepares itself towards further success at is spiritual home this weekend, but the future for BMW’s success in the DTM lies in a new vehicle, as the M3 is soon to pass on the baton to its successor, the M4 DTM, which will line up on the grid in 2014, as announced by the Munich luxury car manufacturer earlier today.
It signals the end of an era for a truly iconic and highly race car, that celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, with the current DTM challenger making a clean sweep of the titles, as well as rounding of BMW M’s 40th anniversary in style this time last year with Bruno Spengler.
With the end of its road going counterpart earlier this year, the M4 Concept Coupé was finally unveiled in Pebble Beach, California this weekend, over 9,000 miles away from where the action is set to unfold on race day.
The M3 has won 48 races in its historic journey through the DTM over the years, as well as other championships around the globe, with the first DTM victory being recorded by Harald Grohs in 1987, with Spengler scoring the most recent win at the Red Bull Ring this season. But the future beckons, as Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt says that the car looks fantastic: “So will our DTM car for next season – I can already promise all the fans that much. The BMW M3 DTM won the title at the first attempt in 2012. We obviously want to follow on from this success with its successor. However, it will still be quite a while until we get to see our new DTM racing car for the first time.”
BMW M GmbH’s President, Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, speaking at the event, said that the new car would help to lay new foundations both on the road and on the track, with the Concept being well received by all: “It is almost a matter of course to use it as the basis for a motorsport version. The DTM is obviously the ideal platform for this step. All fans of BMW M and the DTM certainly have good reason to start looking forward to 2014.”
Adieu to the BMW M3, a legend never to be forgotten in motorsport history… parting is such sweet sorrow…
