A 2018 BMW M5 is the new MotoGP safety car

The new BMW M5 will take its place as the primary safety car for the 2018 MotoGP season, strating with its debut at Valencia in the last round of this year.

The Bavarian super sedan will put its 4.4-litre V8 and xDrive all-wheel drive to use when it needs to quickly make its way around a track in an emergency.

BMW M president Frank van Meel says the M5 makes the perfect safety car for BMW due to its sporting appeal and its versatility.

“A MotoGP Safety Car faces enormous challenges. It is vital to lead a field of unique, high-performance race prototypes safely through all sorts of conditions,” says van Meel.

“Innovative motorsport technology is an essential part of this. The new BMW M5 forms the perfect basis for a safety car, as its technical features ensure perfect handling, even at the limits of driving dynamics - on the road and on the racetrack.

“Development never stands still in MotoGP, which is always pushing its limits further and further. The same is true for the BMW M GmbH - and the new M5 MotoGP Safety Car is an outstanding example of our pursuit of innovation and maximum levels of performance.”

To complete the transformation from road car to track car, the M5 scores a new front splitter which is a prototype just for this application. It also has racing bonnet latches, bucket seats from the BMW M4 GTS, and of course, flashing red and blue lights on the roof and in the grille.