Frankfurt Motor Show: BMW M8 GTE racer unveiled

In a much anticipated return to the World Endurance Championship, BMW’s M8 GTE racer is slated to take to the grid in 2018.

The last time a BMW race car took to the grid at a WEC event was the BMW M3 GT2 in 2011.

Set to go up against Ferrari, Ford, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Chevrolet, BMW ultimately hopes to win at Le Mans.

With a 4.0-litre V8 instead of what will likely be the production 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 in the road car, the GTE makes around 375kW when tuned to race, which should be much less than the road-going M8 will have at its disposal.

This engine which BMW says is based on a production V8, will be mated to a sequential six-speed racing gearbox.

BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt says the M8 GTE will debut at Daytona in late January.

“For us, the presentation of the uncamouflaged car at the IAA is the next important step on the road to our first race outing, which we plan to be the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018.”