BMW M4 GT4 Breaks Cover after Almeria Test

The first photos of the new BMW M4 GT4 have been revealed by BMW M Motorsport from a recent test session at Almeria.

As reported by Sportscar365, the German manufacturer is introducing a new G82-range M4 to replace the current F82 model of the same name in GT4 competition from 2023.

Following computer simulation work in 2020, the first test car for the new model was assembled at Dingolfing this summer. That led to the first rollout test in October.

Jens Klingmann and Erik Johansson then took turns behind the wheel during a more thorough test at Almeria in southern Spain.

According to BMW, the next-generation M4 GT4 is designed to accommodate “ease of maintenance and cost efficiency” while also improving on the current M4 model.

The car is derived from the new production M4 and adopts race-developed elements of the road car’s systems including the engine and transmission.

Some elements have been borrowed from the new BMW M4 GT3 such as the CFC roof and the rear wing design.

On the sustainability side, BMW has used natural fibers to replace carbon and plastic components.

“With the new BMW M4 GT4, we are writing the next chapter in a major success story,” said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BMW M.

“The current model has shaken up the booming GT4 class in recent years, and has celebrated many titles and victories all over the world.

“When developing the new BMW M4 GT4, we wanted to retain the strengths of its predecessor and even improve them in some areas.

“We are confident that BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers will have a huge amount of fun with this model. The hunt for more trophies in the GT4 segment starts in 2023.”

BMW plans to engage a second M4 GT4 test car at the start of next year, as it ramps up for an extensive development program with the customer-focused machine.

Despite a long period of time standing between the Almeria outing and the car’s 2023 race debut, Klingmann suggested that the car felt “very secure” during its initial tests.

“Although we are still in a very early phase of testing, there are already areas, in which we have achieved progress compared to the current BMW M4 GT4,” said Jens Klingmann.

“This applies in particular to the seat ergonomics, ease of operation and many additional functions that the predecessor did not have.

“As far as driveability is concerned, the new BMW M4 GT4 feels very secure from the word go.

“It has a large top range, in which you can push the car to the limit. We still have a full year to optimize the car to be used by private teams and drivers, but it is already a lot of fun to drive.”