BMW is working on a new generation of its entry-level customer race car based on the M2 coupe, and prototypes are currently being evaluated, including in the grueling races of the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
One of the prototypes, still wearing camouflage gear, was snapped during its participation in a four-hour race held over the weekend on the Nürburgring's smaller Grand Prix Track, which in the past has 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 were able to complete the race without issue.
BMW first announced plans for the new race car in August and confirmed it will be introduced in time for the 2026 motorsports season. There's a chance it will be closely aligned with an upcoming M2 CS road car, prototypes for which have been spotted testing.
2026 BMW M2-based race car prototype at the Nürburgring - Photo via Baldauf
The new race car is the successor to the M235i Racing, M240i Racing, and M2 CS Racing launched in the previous decade, and like those earlier cars the new one will form part of BMW's customer racing program. In the U.S., a popular series for BMW's entry level customer racers is the TC America series.
The earlier cars have been priced from around $100,000, positioning them as an excellent entry point for drivers preparing for the higher-tier—and much more expensive—GT4 and GT3 class cars. The new model is expected to follow a similar pricing strategy.
BMW hasn't released any details on the car. Its M2 road car counterpart was just updated for 2025 with an extra 20 hp, bringing output of the car's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 to 473 hp. The race car should boast a similar figure.
