Photo : Arnaud CORNILLEAU - ACO/Nikon

For BMW, the prefix 'M' symbolises high performance road cars and now it is back in endurance racing.

The distinctive colour scheme and 'M' designates 'motor sport' for cars by the competition branch of BMW, created in 1972. This letter is contiguous magic for the first time a GT in 1986, during the birth of the M3, a high performance version of series 3. Called M3 E30 the first generation (1986-1991) was equipped with a 195-hp 2.3 litre 4-cylinder which would increase to 2.5 litres and 238hp. The M3 E36 was launched in 1992 was completely restyled to be less angular than the previous model and had a new 286hp 6.3 litre engine. A second version was equipped with a six-speed gearbox, while its engine climbed to 321hp (3.2 litres). The third-generation (M3 E46, 2000-2006) gained 22 additional horsepower. Appearing in 2007, the M3 E90/E92 was equipped with a V8 engine for the first time with an output of 420 hp (100 more than the E46) at 8300 rpm. 

Today, the M3 E92 GT2 is the machine of the BMW in endurance has been able to join in the fight between Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette at Le Mans, winning the manufacturers and teams titles in the 2010 American Le Mans Series with Rahal Letterman Racing, the official transatlantic team of BMW. On the 19th March, the American team will bw at Sebring on a circuit they knows well. So, will it be for victory in LM GTE for the opening of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2011?
Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 12 & 13 June 2010. BMW returns to La Sarthe with two cars, one of which (#79) carried an artistic decoration designed by Jeff Koons.