BMW: “Very Ambitious” Timeline for Electric GT Launch

Image: BMW

BMW M Motorsport boss Mike Krack believes the FIA and Discovery have a “very ambitious” timeline for the launch of the FIA Electric GT Championship.

Announced last month, the global series featuring GT3-based machinery with 430 kW all-electric powertrains is slated to debut in 2023.

According to the FIA, a minimum of six races will be held across Europe, Asia and the Gulf region prior to an expansion to the U.S. targeted for Season Two for the Discovery-promoted championship.

While admitting that the German brand is “seriously looking” at the new formula, particularly amid its exit from the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the end of this season, Krack indicated its participation would be unlikely at least in time for the first planned season in less than 24 months’ time.

“We are part of these meetings,” said Krack. “But this is something in general, a manufacturer [like] BMW is present in all of these groups, even if you are not participating. 

“I think it’s also important to know and understand what’s going on and what could be future programs.

“Electric GT is interesting. The timeline is very ambitious I think but it’s something we’re looking at seriously.”

When asked if a potential program would fall under the M brand or utilize BMW’s i nomenclature, Krack admitted it’s a “difficult question to answer.”

BMW’s Formula E program falls under the i brand although the manufacturer recently introduced the BMW i4M50 (pictured above) that incorporates both brands. 

“M will go electric anyways as well,” Krack said. “There will be a day where M is electric and then there’s no reason why we have to choose another brand than M. 

“We have come much closer together, Motorsport and M. We are one now. I think we would never bring it under i now.”

“No Immediate Plans” for ETCR

Krack indicated that BMW has no current plans to build a car to the ETCR regulations despite having been courted by creator WSC Technology.

“We don’t have a history in TCR,” he said. “Also at the Nürburgring [24], we had meetings with the TCR people and we spoke about ETCR because they had the Vallelunga event the week after. 

“Some people attended it to understand and see how it’s developing. But there are no immediate plans. 

“With different formats starting to come, you need to check what suits for our brand and what we want to show.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John