F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General BMW News and Cars Discussion > E46 M3 GTR Race and Road Car Presented at Pebble Beach (Live Photos Added)
Extreme Powerhouse
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-06-2015, 04:29 PM   #1
Jason
Administrator
Jason's Avatar
United_States
40107
Rep
21,227
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

E46 M3 GTR Race and Road Car Presented at Pebble Beach (Live Photos Added)

BIMMERPOST NEWS
2001 BMW M3 GTR Race and Road Cars To Be Presented at Legends of the Autobahn Concours D’Elegance
67
COMMENTS



Updated August 14, 2015 @ 12 PM PT with live photos from Pebble Beach


Name:  M3_GTR_Road_Version_1 2.jpg
Views: 77304
Size:  570.0 KBWoodcliff Lake, N.J. – August 6, 2015… BMW of North America, LLC will unveil the newly restored 2001 BMW M3 GTR (E46) “Stars and Stripes” liveried race car along with its long hidden road-going counterpart at the Legends of the Autobahn Concours D’Elegance in Monterey, California on August 14, as part of the company’s 40th anniversary celebration this year.

The BMW M3 GTR was a dominant competitor throughout the single season that it contested. Bill Auberlen, Boris Said and Hans J-Stuck capped off the season for BMW North America by winning the 2001 Petit Le Mans finale. As a tribute to a grieving nation and to those who lost their lives in 9/11, BMW Team PTG owner Tom Milner had created the patriotic “Stars and Stripes” design specifically for this race. As a result of the win and the special livery, the car became a legend for BMW racing fans in America. Bill Auberlen will be in attendance at the Legends of the Autobahn M3 GTR display for the unveiling of the car that bears his name on its side.

The road car version of the M3 GTR is one of the most limited production models ever produced by BMW and this will mark only the second time the car has been shown in North America.

BMW Motorsport Chassis no. M3-GTR-006 has undergone an 18-month ground-up restoration by BMWUSA Classic partner Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) with invaluable assistance from former PTG team members and BMW Motorsport.

The most unique feature of the M3 GTR was its powerplant, the first M3 in the history of the company to feature a V8 engine. Designated “P60” the 4.0-liter engine was the first engine designed and constructed by BMW Motorsport specifically as a race engine. This unique machine was smaller and weigh 30 pounds less than the inline six, despite adding two cylinders. Featuring a dry sump for optimal lubrication at high cornering loads and a “flat plane” crankshaft, the design allowed for more efficient exhaust scavenging without the need to have header primaries cross over from one bank to the other enabling optimal flow at high rpms. This resulted in a very reliable 444 horsepower at 7500 rpm in race trim.

Controversial during its only season of American Le Mans competition, the M3 GTR was built to a set of rules that ultimately existed for only one season and allowed a manufacturer to compete with a purpose-built racing engine as long as a (small) number of road cars were produced. Two M3 GTR race cars each were campaigned by BMW Team PTG and BMW Team Schnitzer beginning with the third event of the eight race ALMS season. The two squads, for all intents and purposes now only competing amongst themselves, combined to win the final six races in a row, from five pole positions while setting six new race lap records. The BMW M3 GTR easily secured the ALMS Manufacturers’ Championship for BMW, the Team Championship for BMW Team Schnitzer and the Drivers’ Championship for Jörg Müller.

In order to fulfill the homologation requirements, the M3 GTR road car was built in parallel with the racing program in the special vehicles department of the BMW Regensburg Plant. The road car used a slightly detuned version of the P60 rated at 380 horsepower at 7,000 rpm – complete with dry-sump lubrication and sharply canted radiator with hood venting. Power was transmitted through a racing style twin-disc clutch to a 6-speed manual gearbox and variable locking M differential.

The M3 GTR featured an extensively stiffened chassis and a very sporty suspension setup derived from the race version. The M3 GTR was dramatically lowered compared to the stock M3, additional bracing was fitted between the firewall and strut towers as well as between the rear shock towers. The extended and re-designed front and rear fascias and the rear wing optimized the aerodynamics of the M3 GTR by reducing lift.

The M3 GTR road car benefited from extensive weight reduction measures. The roof, rear spoiler, hood vents front and rear fascias were all constructed of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) – just as on the race version. The interior of the GTR was also reworked with an eye on lightweight. Recaro leather covered racing seats were added, the rear seat was removed and special M3 GTR sill plates finished off the interior changes.

A total of six cars were completed before the program was terminated. Three of those were engineering development cars that were later recycled. Three production level examples were produced and these survive to this day as part of the BMW Group Classic collection. The road car debuted simultaneously at the Dubai importer and the Road Atlanta paddock during the 2001 Petit Le Mans event. The car presented in the paddock at the Petit Le Mans was only on display for approximately an hour before being loaded onto a transporter back to Munich. The GTR road cars have been cloaked in mystery and have been part of M3 lore ever since.

Ultimately, those limited homologation requirements and the crushing success of the M3 GTR on the track caused such controversy that the production requirements were expanded by 100-fold for the 2002 season making a similar effort by BMW economically impossible. The race cars were retired in North America, but continued on in Europe where they competed in the Nurburgring 24 Hour race beginning in 2003. Overall race winners in 2004 to its final race in 2005, the M3 GTR went out - as it began - a winner.

BMW E46 M3 GTR

BMW E46 M3 GTR

2001 BMW M3 GTR Race Car




Appreciate 7
      08-06-2015, 04:46 PM   #2
tom @ eas
General
tom @ eas's Avatar
United_States
7988
Rep
18,766
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim, CA

iTrader: (19)

Garage List
2018 BMW i3s  [0.00]
2010 BMW M3  [6.50]
2015 BMW M4  [5.25]
M3 GTR
__________________
Tom G. | european auto source (eas)
email: tom@europeanautosource.com · web: https://europeanautosource.com· tel 866.669.0705 · ca: 714.369.8524 x22

GET DAILY UPDATES ON OUR BLOG · FACEBOOK · YOUTUBE · FLICKR · INSTAGRAM
Appreciate 3
      08-06-2015, 04:54 PM   #3
Igs
Second Lieutenant
135
Rep
275
Posts

Drives: G80 / 992 GT3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Chicagoland NW subs

iTrader: (7)

Definitely worthy of Legendary status
__________________
Give a Shift
Appreciate 6
      08-06-2015, 04:54 PM   #4
IND-Distribution
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
IND-Distribution's Avatar
United_States
9541
Rep
10,839
Posts


Drives: G80 M3 / G82 M4
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (3)

Wow sounds like the place to be!
__________________
IND DISTRIBUTION | 866-963-4520 • INSTAGRAM • YOUTUBE • FACEBOOK • FLICKR
Appreciate 1
      08-06-2015, 04:55 PM   #5
GOLFFRR
GOLFFRR's Avatar
10687
Rep
27,506
Posts

Drives: GOLFFRR cart
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: we sell BMWs to "ALL" US states

iTrader: (4)

sweet!
__________________

BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT BMW, PM ME FIRST WE CAN HOOK YOU UP!
Jimmy Miller:Jimmym@bmwofcamarillo.com Cell:805-509-2048
If you have any issues getting a hold of Jimmy M PLEASE PM me, I'm available everyday till 545pm!
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 05:19 PM   #6
WAY
Brigadier General
Australia
457
Rep
4,822
Posts

Drives: Fast ones
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia

iTrader: (0)

So the 3 completed road cars were never sold?
Appreciate 1
      08-06-2015, 05:21 PM   #7
VCP
Colonel
VCP's Avatar
Canada
1390
Rep
2,336
Posts

Drives: M4GTS BSM/F90comp/BSM M2CS
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

Was able to lay eyes on a GTR, sitting beside a E92 GTS and a E30 M3 Vert, last month while on private tour at Garching. Awestruck!
Appreciate 1
      08-06-2015, 05:43 PM   #8
swagon
Major General
swagon's Avatar
No_Country
13478
Rep
8,143
Posts

Drives: F80 6MT
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: .

iTrader: (0)

Now that's great and unexpected news! Finally the mysterious Straßenversion will see daylight and hope they'll get to drive it. Those poor three cars that have spent more than a decade sitting in a warehouse must be driven!

I've never seen some of those pictures. And I thought that majority of them were sold to customers...
Appreciate 1
      08-06-2015, 06:02 PM   #9
Sean@PSI
Sean@PSI's Avatar
United_States
2112
Rep
5,008
Posts

Drives: 2021 IOMG M3 Sedan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Oviedo, FL

iTrader: (0)

Incredible!
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 06:15 PM   #10
YungDro
Major
1088
Rep
1,149
Posts

Drives: -
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Bmw M3 Gtr <3
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 06:19 PM   #11
Law
Global Moderator
Law's Avatar
United_States
6377
Rep
2,309
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011.5 BMW M3  [10.00]
2004 BMW M3  [10.00]
A pleasant & welcome surprise
__________________
2011.5 E90 ///M3 | 6-Speed Manual | Slicktop | Jerez Black | Fox Red

E9x M3 Press/Media Archives Thread | S65-based Racing Engines Thread
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 06:25 PM   #12
techwhiz
Colonel
techwhiz's Avatar
United_States
453
Rep
2,973
Posts

Drives: e90 335i Sedan - Arctic
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bay Area, Ca

iTrader: (4)

Porsche and a couple of other manufacturers got mad because BMW followed the letter of the law and went out racing and beat the crap out of them. Hence once season only.

It was a badass car.
__________________
Arctic Metallic\CF Splitters, Spoiler, Mirror Covers\LED Tails\LSD\Tinted\Coded\Apex Square SM10-19"\LED Angel Eyes\Gloss Black Grill\Integrated V1 & Galaxy Tab\M-Performance Brakes\Cobb Tuned\xHP Flash\Resonator Removed and -> is your friend.
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 06:43 PM   #13
yousefnjr
salty cowboys fan
yousefnjr's Avatar
6101
Rep
3,387
Posts

Drives: ‘06 Z4MR, ‘20 X7, ‘22 M4x
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (2)

Perfect, on the day I was already planning to go!
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 06:59 PM   #14
Law
Global Moderator
Law's Avatar
United_States
6377
Rep
2,309
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011.5 BMW M3  [10.00]
2004 BMW M3  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by techwhiz View Post
Porsche and a couple of other manufacturers got mad because BMW followed the letter of the law and went out racing and beat the crap out of them. Hence once season only.

It was a badass car.
It was controversial because it was hardly a "production" street car.
Yes it met the semantic requirements at the time but the three production level examples supposedly "sold" for 250,000 Euros each (to whom we don't know) were eventually returned to BMW & kept in storage to this day.
This is why it didn't sit well with Porsche as they actually sold what they raced (911 GT3), i.e., you can walk into a Porsche dealership & buy a Porsche 911 GT3.

Nevertheless, still an awesome car with great pedigree.
Indirectly paved the road for the "mass production" V8 E9X M3.
What a story to remember.

__________________
2011.5 E90 ///M3 | 6-Speed Manual | Slicktop | Jerez Black | Fox Red

E9x M3 Press/Media Archives Thread | S65-based Racing Engines Thread
Appreciate 3
      08-06-2015, 07:03 PM   #15
Alumac
First Lieutenant
92
Rep
380
Posts

Drives: prudently
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Atlanta

iTrader: (0)

I wish car companies would offer their current line up, and 1 model updated from history. 2016 e46 M3 GTR. How awesome would that be instead of a list to buy an M2.
Appreciate 1
      08-06-2015, 07:17 PM   #16
nemex12
Captain
114
Rep
973
Posts

Drives: e60,z4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: florida

iTrader: (1)

my dream car! always wondered what happened to those beauties, now we know. hopefully we will finally be able to see em in a track test by specialized shows, that would be better that any test of any of the new cars in the market.
__________________
if you want perfection buy a mercedes, or marry an accountant
Appreciate 1
      08-06-2015, 07:41 PM   #17
TheBingoBalls
Brigadier General
TheBingoBalls's Avatar
Canada
3799
Rep
4,653
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
E46...and then begun the downward fall.

Look, I love my E90 as much as the next guy but the E46 was the pinnacle of BMW engineering. I don't care which model it was, the E46 was the perfect blend of looks and performance. Can't wait to see the pictures!
Appreciate 2
      08-06-2015, 08:45 PM   #18
StealYourFace
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
260
Rep
1,794
Posts

Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY

iTrader: (1)

Stunning. I'd love to hear the street car and know what it has in common with the s62.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 10:12 PM   #19
E9TOU
Captain
United_States
232
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2010 E92 335i
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Goleta, CA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Best M3 ever! Hands down my favorite version.

So are the road car and race car the two rumored cars that BMW is bringing to pebble beach? Can we say goodbye at chance of seeing an M4 GTS and/or M2?
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 10:52 PM   #20
SickFinga
Captain
1329
Rep
691
Posts

Drives: *
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: *

iTrader: (0)

Is anyone from here going to attend the show?
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 11:08 PM   #21
m5 guy
Brigadier General
m5 guy's Avatar
United_States
1662
Rep
3,198
Posts

Drives: 2020 M5 Comp
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hawaii

iTrader: (14)



Great write up and pics. Easily one of my favorite BMW race cars.
__________________
2020 F90 M5 Comp Oxford Green Metallic II-Aragon JOURNAL
2016 F10 M5 Space Gray-Black SOLD
2012 E70 X5M Monte Carlo Blue-Silverstone SOLD
2001 E46 M3 Oxford Green Metallic II-Cinnamon SOLD
Appreciate 0
      08-06-2015, 11:15 PM   #22
IB M
Brigadier General
2766
Rep
4,238
Posts

Drives: 2017 M3 MG/SO ZCP DCT
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Carolina

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2017 BMW M3  [8.50]
2013 BMW M3  [10.00]
So cool. As close to automotive perfection as I have ever seen.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:31 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST