BMW M4 to replace the M3 for the 2014 season of the DTM
Since it first took to the track for the DTM, the BMW M3 has seen considerable success. Maybe using the word 'considerable' is an understatement given that the M3 claimed all three DTM titles â€" driver's, team's, manufacturer's â€" in 2012. But it would appear that the M3 is at the end of its stint in competitive touring car racing. The road-going 2-door M3 is going to be replaced by the 2-door M4 coupe, and it's the M4 that will take to the track in 2014.
Given the technical freeze in the DTM, the M4 won't be a ground-up change, but will instead be an evolution. This fact was confirmed by BMW Motorsport Director, Jens Marquardt, who has said that fans will have a lot to look forward to from the DTM M4. Marquardt also declared "The BMW Concept M4 Coup certainly looks fantastic. So will our DTM car for next season â€" I can already promise all the fans that much. The BMW M3 DTM won the title at the first attempt in 2012. We obviously want to follow on from this success with its successor. However, it will still be quite a while until we get to see our new DTM racing car for the first time."
So far, the BMW M3 has 48 DTM wins to its name. Harald Grohs (DE) scored the first victory in Hockenheim (DE) in 1987. The latest success came courtesy of Bruno Spengler (CA) at this year's race in Spielberg (AT). The BMW M3 has also picked up victories in many other series and at racing events around the world, earning its place as the most successful touring car of all time.
While it's only the concept M4 that has been unveiled at Pebble Beach, there is plenty of promise that the road-going car and the race version too will look good too. To find out, though, we'll need to wait till early 2014. If we're to believe BMW, it will be worth it!