MotoGP’s New Safety Car is a 617 HP BMW M8 Competition

This purpose-built 617 hp BMW M8 Competition replaces the F90 M5 as MotoGP’s latest Safety Car.

Powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that belts out 617 hp of power, the all-new BMW M8 Competition has reported for safety car duties for the ongoing MotoGP season. The sports coupe which replaces the F90 M5 made its debut at the Red Bull Ring race in Austria over the weekend.

Taking into consideration the nature of its tasks, the MotoGP Safety Car was extensively tested at the manufacturer’s track in Southern France, winter testing in Arjeplog, Sweden and of course at the Nurburgring. The M8 GTE race car served as a reference point for the team which designed and built the M8 Competition Safety Car at the dedicated BMW M factory in Garching, Germany.

Here’s the complete list of changes that were made to the road-going BMW M8 Competition to make it ready for the demanding track environment.

• BMW M Performance titanium sport exhaust system
• BMW M Performance carbon tailpipe finisher
• BMW M Performance floor mats
• BMW M Performance carbon engine cover
• BMW M Performance carbon rear diffusor
• BMW M Performance steering wheel pro (with M Performance carbon cover and M Performance shift paddles)
• BMW M Performance carbon air breather side grill
• BMW M Performance carbon side skirts
• BMW M Performance logo decals
• Bonnet with ‘motorsport lock’
• Fuel suction pump
• Battery master switch
• Flashing corona headlight rings
• LED lights on the roof with bracket
• Front grille LED flasher
• RECARO racing seats with Schroth belts
• Roll cage
• Fire extinguisher with bracket
• Michelin Cup tires
• Red foiled kidney grille
• Front spoiler with frozen black paint finish
• BMW floating hub cap
• BMW valve caps with M logo
• BMW M8 GTE rear wing
• Side skirts foiled black
• MotoGP livery
• Customized carbon flaps
• Light control panel

BMW and MotoGP organizer Dorna Sports have been collaborating for over two decades as of 2019. BMW’s history of preparing specially-designed safety cars for the racing series has witnessed a multitude of cars donning the special livery.

Source: BMW