BMW will support the motorcycle road racing world championship - MotoGP - with a special 1 Series M Coupé safety car.
Rather than just stick a set of lights and decals on a standard 1 Series M Coupé the Safety Car is a one-off creation; although the engine and drivetrain remain unaltered.
Attention has been paid to cutting weight. A carbon fibre bonnet with additional air vents, polycarbonate side and rear windows and a titanium exhaust system trim away excess kilos. The exhaust has apparently been developed to produce 'a captivating sound for the benefit of the spectators'. The Safety Car also gets a series of aerodynamic changes including a front air dam, side skirts and an adjustable rear wing.
The interior has been modified too: the rear seat has been removed and a pair of racing bucket seats is fitted in the front. The space vacated by the rear bench is filled with a rollover cage and the Safety Car is also fitted with a fire extinguisher.
BMW has adapted the 1 Series M Coupé's suspension for track work. An adjustable set-up is fitted allowing ride height, camber and damping to be altered. Braking is taken care of by a six-piston, fixed calliper racing system.
BMW's support for the MotoGP season extends beyond just the Safety Car. A fleet of eight vehicles, including an ActiveHybrid X6 and two Safety Bikes (a S 1000 RR and a HP2 Sport), has been supplied to the organisers.
The MotoGP 2011 season started this weekend in Qatar with the next race in Spain on 3 April. The road-going BMW 1 Series M Coupé will go on sale in late April.
We drove the pre-production version. Read the First Drive here.