Team Studie Set For BMW M4 GT3 EVO Upgrade

BMW M Team Studie is set to make the switch to the new BMW M4 GT3 EVO for its 2025 SUPER GT campaign upon the new car’s delivery to customers worldwide.

Team director Yasuaki ‘Bob’ Suzuki revealed that the Yokohama-based outfit, currently the sole BMW user in the Japanese series, will be making the switch to the Bavarian marque’s latest-spec machinery in time for the beginning of next season.

Speaking to Sportscar365 during last weekend’s season finale in Suzuka, Suzuki said he has high hopes for the updated machine.

“We’re very excited and looking forward to having the car here in Japan next year,” said Suzuki. “We’ve heard that it’s a very well developed car. [Studie alumni] Bruno [Spengler] and Augusto Farfus have been personally involved with the development.”

Suzuki clarified that the team will have its current M4 GT3 upgraded to EVO spec rather than purchasing a completely new car: “Our engine and transmission were brand new this year, so we’re just going to update the car.”

Team Studie has enjoyed mixed success since the BMW M4 GT3’s debut on Japanese soil in 2022, scoring two victories at Suzuka as well as four podium finishes in total.

Prior to the 2025 finale, Studie had finished all bar one race inside the top ten, with the best result being a third-place finish at the Okayama opener, leaving Seiji Ara and Niklas Kruetten fifth in the GT300 drivers’ standings.

“The level in GT300 is really high, so it’s actually quite tough finishing every race in the top ten,” said Suzuki. “We’re proud of our performance.

“We’re very good in the wet. But when it comes to the dry, we honestly don’t have enough speed yet.”

The team finished the Suzuka finale in 13th as the best of three Michelin tire users after struggling in qualifying with tire warm-up in the chilly conditions.

Asked whether Studie would continue its relationship with Michelin in 2025, Suzuki said that he wanted to keep all options open, while also emphasizing that no final decision has been made regarding Studie’s driver lineup.

“We have several options that we’re considering at the moment, including Michelin,” he said. “But we haven’t made a decision yet about which direction we’re going.

“We’re going to make an announcement regarding our drivers and tires by the end of the year.”

For his part, Kruetten told Sportscar365 that he enjoyed his rookie season in SUPER GT and is hoping to be back with Studie next year, thanking Ara and third driver Bruno Spengler for helping him get up to speed.

“I loved racing in Japan this year,” said the German driver. “I think it was a good season considering I didn’t know any of the tracks beforehand and having to learn many of them only in free practice.

“I’m very grateful to the team, we finished fifth in the standings, so I can’t complain. Hopefully I’ll be back next year, that’s the main goal.

“Seiji and Bruno also helped me a lot with learning the tracks, so hopefully we can keep going together,” added Kruetten, speaking before the news of Spengler’s departure from BMW that was announced on Wednesday.

Jamie Klein contributed to this report