GTS Replaces BMW M4
The limited edition BMW M4 GTS has been unveiled to be the official safety car of the 2016 DTM season.
DTM, short for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is the most popular international touring car series in the World. DTM racers are single seat racers with bodies that resemble production cars built by Audi, Mercedes and BMW. Specifications are very closely monitored to ensure that the cars are as similar as possible, much like NASCAR in the United States.
The BMW M4 GTS safety car is identical to the road-going version. However, it has been equipped with several pieces of safety equipment needed to complete its tasks pertaining to DTM. This includes an LED light bar, LED flashers, and a lot of “DTM Safety Car” identification stickers. The vehicle also has a rear wing, front splitter, 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inch wheels in back wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
The safety car shares the same engine with the road-going M4 GTS, which is a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine incorporating water injection technology. This set up produces 500 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Converting horsepower to forward motion is a seven-speed M Double Clutch transmission. This set up enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds, accelerating all the way to a limited 189 miles per hour.
Since the road-going M4 GTS comes equipped with a roll bar and fire extinguisher, all that was needed to convert the vehicle to DTM safety car specifications was a radio, enabling the driver to communicate with race officials.
The 2016 DTM racing season kicks off on Sunday May 8, 2016 at Hockenheimring and ends at the same track for the championship on Sunday October 16, 2016.
Source: BMW
