BMW Evaluating Next Generation CTSC Platforms

BMW swept the GS driver and manufacturer championships in this year’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, and now is in the process of determining which platforms will serve it best for 2015 in both GS and ST.

According to BMW North America program manager Gordon McDonnell, there’s a good chance new models will be coming in to replace the venerable BMW E92 M3 (GS) and BMW 128i (ST) at some point during the new year.

“Naturally we’d love to replace the M3 with an M3 or M4 variant; I can’t really say which direction we’re going right now, but we’ve basically supplied both cars to Fall-Line and Turner to take a look at,” McDonnell told Sportscar365.

“The natural progression would be one of those. It would be too early to have something for the Roar or the BMW Performance 200 to kick off the season, but I would say it’s likely a midseason entry for next year.”

On the ST side, teams campaign both the BMW 128i and 328i but there’s a likely replacement in the form of the BMW 235i, from its 2 Series line.

“That’s another area where it’s time for us to change cars,” McDonnell said. “We’re working with Burton Racing on bringing in the 2 Series. It’s a much better platform; it’s something we can compete with the Porsche Cayman with.”

Longtime BMW 3 Series stalwarts Bimmerworld are likely to continue with the 328i, McDonnell said, but it’s in their hands as to which car they will race and BMW would be likely to provide support.

The aforementioned Cayman has been the outright fastest car in ST all season, but didn’t win as frequently as it could have. McDonnell expressed an interest in the class’ Balance of Performance being evaluated over the offseason to bring the field closer.

“It’s such a different mix of cars in ST, much different than GS in that there’s such a variation, so the BoP has to be a bit tighter,” he said. “We’ve had success with the 1 Series. We knew this year would be a tough season. It ended up being that way for us. With the 2 Series, it should be a better platform.”