As somebody who’s pushing 40, I grew up throughout the golden period of the Want for Pace franchise. By far probably the most recognizable BMW to star in a online game was the M3 GTR extensively featured in Most Wished launched again in 2005. In fact, that iconic E46 is vital amongst fans for one more cause – it’s the one E46 to come back from the manufacturing unit with an enormous ol’ V8.

A brand new video appears again on the ultra-rare Strassenversion (avenue model) that BMW needed to construct to adjust to American Le Mans Collection (ALMS) racing rules. The race automobile was formally unveiled in March 2001 throughout the Sebring 12 Hours race in Florida the place it completed on the rostrum with JJ Lehto and Jörg Müller behind the wheel. After being launched on the Petit Le Mans occasion in Braselton, Georgia later that yr, manufacturing of the road-legal variant commenced in January 2002.

Whereas the time period “race automobile for the street” tends to be overused lately, the M3 GTR Strassenversion was successfully that. Again within the day, BMW stated it was “stored technically as shut as doable to the racing model.” It had a dry weight of simply 1,350 kilograms (2,976 kilos), which made it a exceptional 185 kg (408 lbs) lighter than the common M3 bought throughout the E46 period.

The costliest M3 ever bought by BMW, the street-legal GTR was provided for roughly €250,000 and solely 10 items have been ever made. All of them had a two-seat structure and a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 taken straight from the race automobile. It used a barely restricted model of the identical P60B40, which pushed out 346 hp (258 kW) and 365 Nm (269 lb-ft) of torque. The 4.0-liter unit routed energy to the rear axle by way of a six-speed handbook gearbox (as a substitute of the race automobile’s sequential transmission) and a variable limited-slip differential.

The M3 GTR was quicker than the usual M3 of these days by having the ability to hit 183 mph (295 km/h), or 10 mph (15 km/h) greater than the series-production flagship. This was the one BMW street-legal automobile to make use of the P60B40. These vehicles have been inbuilt a set specification since all got here in Titan Silver Metallic with quite a few carbon fiber physique elements and 19-inch wheels wrapped in 225/40 entrance and 255/35 rear tires.

Not even BMW is aware of what occurred to these 10 vehicles after promoting them for 1 / 4 of one million euros a pop. As for the racing model, it accomplished the 2001 season within the GT class of the ALMS after ending in first and third locations in seven races, out of a complete of 10. It was its first and solely season as rules modified, requiring 100 street vehicles as a substitute of simply 10. The M3 GTR lived on in Europe the place it raced between 2003 and 2005, collaborating within the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours.

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