BMW M2 CS Racing Makes North American Debut, 444 HP Upgrade In The Pipeline

The BMW M2 CS Racing competition car has made its North American debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona last week.

The new entry-level model in the BMW M Customer Racing product range will soon pick up where the M235i Racing and M240i Racing left off. BMW says the test and development phase is entering the home stretch, which is why the automaker has begun presenting the M2 CS Racing to the public, including potential customers.

Fans were able to take a first look at the new race car which was on display in the event area near the BMW M Experience truck at Daytona.

Read: BMW Pulled M8 GTE Out Of Endurance Racing After Last Year’s 24 Hours Of Le Mans

“North America is the most important market for BMW M worldwide, therefore it is important for us to present the BMW M2 CS Racing as our new entry-level car for the first time in the US,” said BMW M GmbH Head of Sales and Marketing, Thomas Felbermair. “With this car we will not only be represented in classic motor racing, but also in the club racing segment and in the Track Day community,” he added.

From the start of the 2020 season, BMW M GmbH will be responsible for the sale and distribution of BMW race cars for customer racing. After making its first appearance at Daytona, the BMW M2 CS Racing was presented to North American BMW dealers during a conference outside Miami.

In early March, BMW will show the car at the TC America season-opener at Austin (USA). The BMW M2 CS Racing is scheduled to compete in the series for customer teams from the 2021 season onwards.

Like the road-going version, the new BMW M2 CS Racing is powered by a turbocharged S55 3.0-liter straight-six gasoline engine. However, in the competition model, the power plant delivers between 280 PS (276 HP) and 365 PS (360 HP), depending on the Balance of Performance or Permit B classification.

The peak torque of 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) stays the same but is sent to the rear wheels by a motorsport-calibrated seven-speed dual-clutch transmission instead of the road car’s six-speed manual. The M2 CS Racing features the same engine management as the M4 GT4 racer.

BMW Motorsport is also developing an upgraded variant of the M2 CS Racing with 450 PS (444 HP), which will be aimed at the club racing segment that is becoming increasingly popular in North America.