BMW announces M235i Racing

BMW has revealed the M235i Racing, a track-only model designed for privateer race teams and based on the top-shelf 2 Series Coupe due on sale in Australia from March.

The German brand hasn’t ruled out local sales of the M235i Racing, but has confirmed we'll see a range of new M Performance parts for the upcoming 2 Series, as well as the recently released X5 and 4 Series Coupe, from the first quarter of 2014.

The dealer-fitted optional extras will be available for vehicles fitted with M Sport packages, encompassing a range of carbon-fibre goodies including new front splitters, side skirts, mirror caps and rear spoilers, as well as wheel upgrades.

The M235i Racing, meantime, builds on those elements by adding an upgraded 240kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six, tweaked anti-skid braking and traction/stability control systems, a mechanical limited-slip differential and race-spec FIA-certified fuel tank and roll cage.

Now on sale to racing enthusiasts in Europe for 59,500 Euros ($A106,000), the low-volume M235i Racing is eligible for entry-level motorsport series like the BMW Sports Trophy and VLN Endurance Championship, which includes races at the Nurburgring.

The M235i Racing is unlikely to be made available here, but BMW Australia has not ruled it out.

“It’s not something we would look at usually,” said BMW Australia’s General Manager of Corporate Communications, Lenore Fletcher, who added that if there was enough interest from prospective local racers BMW could investigating importing a small number.

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