BMW M3 and M4 - The Icons
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
home
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General BMW News and Cars Discussion

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-12-2021, 05:43 AM   #1
Boltar
Sourkraut
29
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: E92 former, now F87C
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Freiburg

iTrader: (0)

BMW M and BMW Motorsport Merger

BIMMERPOST
     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com
BMW M and BMW Motorsport have officially merged.

Mike Krack, former senior chief engineer of BMW (F1, DTM), engineer of Porsches LMP1 and engineer at SauberF1, will be responsible for BMWs Motorsport commitments. He will report directly to Markus Flasch.

News link (german):
https://www.motorsport-magazin.com/d...ch-mike-krack/

I think thats a good thing. It also fuels rumors of BMW joining the LMDH class. Krack is a real motorsport expert, unlike his predecessor.

This will also have an interesting impact on the M cars. In summer 2020, Flasch said that the M cars will move closer to the Motorsport cars, technically.
Appreciate 11
BMWGirlFL6234.00
mkoesel7505.50
Jason40317.00
243Racing1447.50
DanG10447.00
agentrnge376.00
The_Werm212.00
EXE462097.00
      03-12-2021, 06:26 AM   #2
BMWGirlFL
Colonel
BMWGirlFL's Avatar
6234
Rep
2,345
Posts

Drives: Z4 M40i
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: South Florida

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Google Translation:
Quote:
BMW Motorsport is merged with BMW M GmbH

Restructuring in Munich: BMW Motorsport will be merged with BMW M GmbH from April 1, 2021, as Motorsport-Magazin.com has learned. Mike Krack, who has been working for BMW again since 2014 after various positions, will take over the management of the motorsport department.

In his role, the previous BMW Head of Race and Test Engineering, Operations & Organization reports to BMW M GmbH Managing Director Markus Flasch, who took over as Head of Motorsport on a temporary basis after Jens Marquardt left in November 2020.

The merger is intended to create a foundation for the future of motorsport at BMW - and that is currently wide open. In addition to the exit from the DTM and the announced departure from Formula E, BMW also reduced its works involvement in the IMSA series: This year, two BMW M8 GTEs will only compete in the remaining three endurance races of the US racing series.

Germany's carmaker in motorsport: from Audi to Volkswagen
For some time now, the focus has been on the development of the new customer sports car BMW M4 GT3, which will replace the discontinued model BMW M6 GT3 from 2022. In its final year, the M6 ​​competes in the DTM thanks to customer outings by Walkenhorst Motorsport and ROWE Racing. For the M4 GT3, which is to be homologated in September, races outside of the competition are planned for 2021.

BMW is in a transition year in motorsport. Rumors of a future entry into the newly created hypercar class have been circulating in the scene for some time. Audi and Porsche will be involved in the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) category from 2023, while Toyota, Glickenhaus, Peugeot (from 2022) and Ferrari (from 2023) have decided to develop an LMH (Le Mans Hypercar).

BMW M GmbH is a subsidiary of BMW founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH. Racing visionary Jochen Neerpasch managed the fortunes from 1973 to 1979 as chairman of the management board. In 1992 the BMW Individual business group was integrated into BMW Motorsport GmbH and in 1993 the company was renamed BMW M GmbH.
Name:  Clipboard.jpg
Views: 5853
Size:  91.3 KB

Last edited by BMWGirlFL; 03-12-2021 at 09:25 AM..
Appreciate 5
Jason40317.00
243Racing1447.50
DanG10447.00
mkoesel7505.50
      03-12-2021, 08:58 AM   #3
mkoesel
Moderator
United_States
7506
Rep
19,370
Posts

Drives: No BMW for now
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canton, MI

iTrader: (1)

Aha, the plot thickens.

BMW hypercar incoming? This might be what those cobbled up M8 powertrain mules are about. Now when do we get to see test mules for the actual car?
Appreciate 12
243Racing1447.50
BMWGirlFL6234.00
JTO245246.50
AlexFL7833.00
tom @ eas8066.50
Law6377.00
The_Werm212.00
davem3fan185.50
      03-12-2021, 09:13 AM   #4
nbennettksu
Brigadier General
1397
Rep
3,152
Posts

Drives: DV F80
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fort Lauderdale

iTrader: (2)

I can't tell which is more shocking: the fact that this is just now happening, or the fact that I am today years old realizing they weren't already joined.

Regardless, this is a beautiful thing.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBasham View Post
Caddy ATS . . . finally, a decent rental car option.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kchu221 View Post
the wheels make me mad...
Quote:
Originally Posted by mhabs View Post
It's one thing for some buffoon to put an M badge on something that doesn't deserve it...it's another for a multi-billion dollar corporation to do the exact same thing and keep a straight face.
Appreciate 12
      03-12-2021, 09:36 AM   #5
ThugzZ BunnY
Major
ThugzZ BunnY's Avatar
United_States
682
Rep
1,155
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: BMW of Chattanooga

iTrader: (0)

did anyone know they were separate? lol
__________________
IG: @andy__wise

Inquiries: Andrew.Wise@bmwofchattanooga.com
Appreciate 4
      03-12-2021, 09:40 AM   #6
tallshortguy
First Lieutenant
64
Rep
386
Posts

Drives: F30 328i
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: US

iTrader: (0)

Yeah they separated decades ago I believe. M focused on developing cars while motorsport took over running the actual race programs. Would love to see BMW get back to competing at the top of WEC again.
Appreciate 2
F32Fleet3539.50
sahajesh2290.00
      03-12-2021, 09:49 AM   #7
XMetal
Colonel
XMetal's Avatar
United_States
1097
Rep
2,846
Posts

Drives: Anything
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 Z4M Coupe  [10.00]
2018 Audi S3  [0.00]
2004 X5  [8.50]
Am I reading this right? It's a bit confusing in terms of wording:

1972: BMW M GmbH became BMW Motorsport GmbH
1993: BMW Motorsport GmbH renamed as BMW M GmbH
Today: BMW Motorsport program (not BMW Motorsport GmbH) is merged into BMW M GmbH?
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 09:54 AM   #8
TheBingoBalls
Brigadier General
TheBingoBalls's Avatar
Canada
3805
Rep
4,655
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThugzZ BunnY View Post
did anyone know they were separate? lol
To a degree but only because I frequent the BMW M and BMW Motorsport website just for news and info. But if I didn't, I would've assumed they were the same because doesn't M stand for "Motorsport"?

Silly Germans.
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 09:57 AM   #9
BMWGirlFL
Colonel
BMWGirlFL's Avatar
6234
Rep
2,345
Posts

Drives: Z4 M40i
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: South Florida

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
Am I reading this right? It's a bit confusing in terms of wording:
1972: BMW M GmbH became BMW Motorsport GmbH
1993: BMW Motorsport GmbH renamed as BMW M GmbH
Today: BMW Motorsport program (not BMW Motorsport GmbH) is merged into BMW M GmbH?
1972: BMW Motorsport GmbH formed.
1993: BMW Motorsport GmbH name change to BMW M GmbH.
1995: BMW Motorsport LTD formed.

Name:  web (3).jpg
Views: 3877
Size:  188.5 KB

Last edited by BMWGirlFL; 03-12-2021 at 05:52 PM..
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 10:15 AM   #10
schnell325
Bored at work....
schnell325's Avatar
Canada
887
Rep
5,378
Posts

Drives: 2016 F82 M4 GTS//2022 M235iGC
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Comox Valley

iTrader: (8)

2022: 50th anniversary
__________________
Grey Matter:2008 E92 M3:608/425. SG/PS SOLD!
Dark Matter:2015 F80 M3:495/505. SOLD!
Anti Matter :2016 F82 M4 GTS
What next?!? A 2022 M235i GC- I must be getting old
Appreciate 2
JTO245246.50
      03-12-2021, 10:19 AM   #11
KennyFSU
Captain
KennyFSU's Avatar
1103
Rep
736
Posts

Drives: Lexus RC F
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I hope they call it BMW M&M.
__________________
Estoril Blue E36M3
Mineral Grey M235ix/12.02 @ 115
Ultra White Lexus RC F
Appreciate 10
Jimjamz4538.00
FaRKle!3996.00
QM287.00
kyleb350422.00
Wild Blue3676.50
Vervain396.50
Neptune71416.00
chrisk03153.00
      03-12-2021, 10:44 AM   #12
Greg-BimmerX7
Private
Greg-BimmerX7's Avatar
74
Rep
71
Posts

Drives: BMW x7
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Miami

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls View Post
To a degree but only because I frequent the BMW M and BMW Motorsport website just for news and info. But if I didn't, I would've assumed they were the same because doesn't M stand for "Motorsport"?

Silly Germans.
I assumed the same thing lol
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 11:14 AM   #13
antzcrashing
Brigadier General
antzcrashing's Avatar
United_States
1875
Rep
3,201
Posts

Drives: 2018 BMW 440i GC
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern MA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Seems like a good thing, also when can we get the M4 GT3 grill for the G8X
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 11:35 AM   #14
clutchdj
Colonel
1852
Rep
2,384
Posts

Drives: a few cars
Join Date: May 2015
Location: NY

iTrader: (6)

I Wonder what they are going to do with front rear brake setup (Alcon?) since they def will not be running that measly floating rear caliper on the track.
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 11:39 AM   #15
ASAP
Major General
ASAP's Avatar
10057
Rep
8,567
Posts

Drives: '23 X3 M40i
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

Super confusing on the timing.... I think we all know that the future of BMW M is electric... sounds like this is something that should have happened years ago... this is the last pure ICE M3.
Appreciate 3
///M TOWN13119.00
EXE462097.00
      03-12-2021, 12:46 PM   #16
cbertels
Captain
cbertels's Avatar
1212
Rep
774
Posts

Drives: M3 YMB-SS
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Orlando

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nbennettksu View Post
I can't tell which is more shocking: the fact that this is just now happening, or the fact that I am today years old realizing they weren't already joined.

Regardless, this is a beautiful thing.
Same here. Apparently M meant marketing all along until now.
Appreciate 1
XMetal1096.50
      03-12-2021, 02:27 PM   #17
CanAutM3
General
CanAutM3's Avatar
Canada
21105
Rep
20,741
Posts

Drives: 2021 911 turbo
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Montreal

iTrader: (1)

Garage List


Back to the way it should. They should have never been separated to start with. This is good news!
__________________
Porsche 911 turbo 2021 992 GT Silver

Previous cars: M4cs 2019 F82 Limerock Grey / M4 2015 F82 Silverstone / M3 2008 E92 Silverstone / M3 2002 E46 Carbon Black

Last edited by CanAutM3; 03-12-2021 at 02:35 PM..
Appreciate 2
stein_325i25051.00
davem3fan185.50
      03-12-2021, 04:29 PM   #18
cfm56d7b
Lieutenant General
United_States
5854
Rep
10,232
Posts

Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (2)

Based on the earlier comment ...

"The merger is intended to create a foundation for the future of motorsport at BMW - and that is currently wide open. In addition to the exit from the DTM and the announced departure from Formula E, BMW also reduced its works involvement in the IMSA series: This year, two BMW M8 GTEs will only compete in the remaining three endurance races of the US racing series."

... Motorsport division departed several venues which means the organizational requirements are also smaller.

This makes sense: merge the organizations and reduce costs (which is what BMW is doing across other initiatives).
Appreciate 2
BMWGirlFL6234.00
EXE462097.00
      03-12-2021, 05:20 PM   #19
MadBimmeRad
Brigadier General
MadBimmeRad's Avatar
Australia
7107
Rep
4,007
Posts

Drives: M235i, 420i, and now the M2 CS
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Adelaide

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by KennyFSU View Post
I hope they call it BMW M&M.
__________________
M2CS,
The second coming of ///M!
Appreciate 1
chrisk03153.00
      03-12-2021, 06:21 PM   #20
ptgltw
Lieutenant Colonel
ptgltw's Avatar
3771
Rep
1,657
Posts

Drives: BMW M's
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Maryland

iTrader: (0)

Porsche allows their race program to lead the way for their street cars. Hopefully BMW follows suit.

If it’s the other way around, I’m just glad I bought my BMW Motorsposts car pre-merger
__________________
1995 LTW: Modified by BMW NA Factory team from new
M2 CS: CF Buckets & more (track toy)
Appreciate 3
JustChris17426.00
      03-12-2021, 07:54 PM   #21
RyanBMW
Lieutenant
RyanBMW's Avatar
United_States
463
Rep
509
Posts

Drives: 2008 E92 328i, 2011 F10 550i,
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Plano, TX

iTrader: (1)

BMW Motorsport Reports directly to Markus Flasch : shouldn't it be the other way around?
Appreciate 1
stein_325i25051.00
      03-12-2021, 09:17 PM   #22
Law
Global Moderator
Law's Avatar
United_States
6377
Rep
2,309
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011.5 BMW M3  [10.00]
2004 BMW M3  [10.00]
If this is true and in fact, not an April Fools joke, then this is very good news and the hope is that we will see more synergy and transfer from motorsports and M Cars.


The BMW M GmbH we know of today (the one that builds M Cars) was founded as BMW Motorsport GmbH in 1972.

In 1993, BMW Motorsport GmbH was renamed and restructured as BMW M GmbH, taking on a new identity and focus on building products (i.e., M Cars) whereas the motorsports and factory racing functions were spun off into a new BMW Motorsport organization.

Of course, for a long time, the two organizations often still shared a lot of the same employees, facilities, R&D, etc.

Sometime within the last few years, the BMW Motorsport organization was further subdivided into BMW M Motorsport and BMW i Motorsport.
Time will tell if those subdivisions will remain functional and if they will adopt new names.
Personally, I have always found the name BMW M Motorsport to be an odd one and semantically redundant...BMW M[otorsport] Motorsport...but people also say 'ATM Machine' (A[utomated] T[eller] M[achine] Machine) on a daily basis so go figure.


As a bonus tip, for those who have just learned/realized that the original BMW Motorsport GmbH was rebranded to BMW M GmbH in 1993, there are subtle details throughout the years that you'll now notice.
Little things like how old M Cars in certain configurations had available "BMW Motorsport" branded goodies such as engraved door handles and other neat trim pieces.



The E34 M5 promotional dealer video, for example, advertises the M5 as a BMW Motorsport product developed by BMW Motorsport.



Bragging rights aside, this is a development worth paying close attention to as we approach the 50th anniversary of the founding of BMW M[otorsport] GmbH.
Markus Flasch has demonstrated a lot of ambition and seems to enjoy being in front of the camera and the front lines, but he's got big shoes to fill...this will be interesting there hasn't been a BMW Motorsport director that overseas M Cars AND motorsports since before the 1993 restructuring (after which there were two separate positions: a BMW M CEO and a BMW Motorsport Director).
__________________
2011.5 E90 ///M3 | 6-Speed Manual | Slicktop | Jerez Black | Fox Red

E9x M3 Press/Media Archives Thread | S65-based Racing Engines Thread
Appreciate 4
BMWGirlFL6234.00
davem3fan185.50
JustChris17426.00
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:09 AM.




g80
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST