BMW Is Working on a Race Car Based on the Beloved M2
It looks like the BMW M2 family is about to get another member.
The German luxury marque’s M motorsports division is hard at work on a race car based on the pint-sized sports coupé. It will be the first official competition vehicle based on the M2 and is expected to hit race tracks in 2026.
News of the racer’s existence comes from no less of a reliable source than BMW M itself. On Tuesday, the division’s official X account posted a quartet of photos of an in-development vehicle, along with a description, addressed to “racers and M car enthusiasts,” calling it an “entry-level race car” that will come out in two years.
That’s it as far as detail goes, but the included photos make clear exactly what Beemer the division’s latest racer will be based on. That’s because the squat muscularity of the M2 is impossible to hide, even if the vehicle’s front and rear are covered in digital camouflage. Its fierce front fascia, bulging fenders, and aggressive stance shine through clearly and should fit right in on the track.
We’ll have to wait for mechanical details, of course, but the road-going M2 would appear to provide a solid foundation to build on. The high-performance 2 Series, which launched in 2016, is currently powered by the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter S58 inline-six that pumps out a very impressive 473 hp and 406 ft lbs of torque. This mill comes mated standard to a six-speed manual transmission, making it one of the last stick shifts you can easily buy and a favorite of enthusiasts (an eight-speed automatic is available as an option, but what’s the fun in that). Performance is also pretty impressive, with the compact two-door sprinting from zero to 60 in 4.1 seconds and topping out at 155 mph. A race car version would likely be more hardcore, so expect more power and better performance.
BMWMotorsport/X
The big question, right now, is what competitions the M2 race car will be eligible for. BMW currently sells GT-3 and GT-4 racers based on the M4, so those would seem to be out, as well as the much more powerful GT-2 class, according to Road and Track. That could mean that the competition-grade vehicle is destined for spec class or regional racing. Regardless, we imagine there will be plenty of excitement to get behind the wheel of a M2 race car once 2026 rolls around.
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