BMW M4 GTS DTM safety car revealed

BMW's most powerful track-ready M4 will soon be fulfilling the role as this year's DTM safety car. Simply called the M4 GTS DTM safety car, BMW claims it will be able to keep up with the touring cars with its array of highly-advanced technologies and safety equipment.

Aesthetically, the M4 GTS retains its production look apart from some key changes for its role as a safety car. First, it features an LED light bar, LED flashers and DTM safety stickers. It also gets a new front splitter, larger rear spoiler and the familiar lightweight alloy wheels with Acid Orange accents. Providing the necessary grip is a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Little has changed inside the M4 GTS safety car as it originally comes standard with a roll cage and fire extinguisher. New safety equipment however, comes in the form of a radio system for interference-free communication between the safety car and race control. Other standard features that were left intact were the carbon fiber bucket seats, pull-strap door handles, instrument panel bracing tube made from carbon fiber and Alcantara interior trim.

Under the hood, the M4 GTS safety car is propelled by a tuned TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. Using water injection technology, it enabled the engine to produce 500 PS along with 600 Nm of torque. It is then mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with DriveLogic. With it, the M4 GTS safety car can sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 305 km/h.

Piloting the M4 GTS safety car will be Jurgen Kastenholz who has been driving official DTM safety cars since 2010. Kastenholz said that he is looking forward to driving the new M4 GTS as he has been driving the M4 Coupe DTM safety car for the last two years.

“The BMW M4 excels through neutral handling, fantastic response and enormous power delivery starting at low engine speeds for optimum acceleration out of tight corners. The new BMW M4 GTS will be even better. So I will have complete trust in the car from the word go – and this is absolutely essential to be able to lead a pack of 24 DTM racing cars quickly around the circuit during the caution periods,” said Kastenholz.

The first round of the 2016 DTM will take place in Hockenheim from May 6 – May 8, 2016.