BMW revealed the 8 Series Coupe Concept in May this year that will spawn the all-new 8 Series as the new flagship model. The resurrection of the 8 Series moniker will also be joined by a potent M-powered M8 variant that was also showcased a few months ago. However, even before these road going cars hit the production line, BMW has put out images of a race car derivative called the M8 GTE completing its first set of tests on the proving ground of Lausitzring in Germany.
Built at BMW’s Dingolfing facility, the M8 GTE underwent the first round of testing on the German racetrack with BMW works driver, Martin Tomczyk and BMW DTM driver, Maxime Martin, behind the wheel.
Judging bythe few images available right now, the M8 GTE looks nothing less than sinister. The larger than life rear wing looks at home with wide-body wheel arches. The bonnet sports a large air vent (similar to the M6 GT3), while the gaping front splitters are made complete with a wide Kidney grille. The headlamps shall be similar to the road going M8, with BMW new X-style lighting signature.
The mirrors are small and unlike any seen on other race cars from BMW. The racing slicks are wider, and the blacked out alloys compliments the sinister appearance. The exhausts are sticking out on the right side of the vehicle. Although no image of the rearis available at the moment, we expect the race car to have large FIA compliant diffusers.
BMW will introduce the M8 GTE in racing series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTechSportsCar Championship (IWSC) in North America next year. Ahead of that, the Bavarian carmaker proposes many more testing rounds on the European and North American racetracks to make sure the M8 GTE is ready to take on all the challenges before making its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January.
