BMW Z4 GTE

Last updated
BMW Z4 GTE
RLL BMW Z4 GTE 56.JPG
Category American Le Mans Series GT (2013)
United SportsCar Championship GTLM (2014-2015)
European Le Mans Series (2015)
Constructor Flag of Germany.svg BMW
Predecessor BMW M3 GT2
Successor BMW M6 GTLM
Technical specifications
Chassis Unitary construction steel body with welded safety cell made of extremely rigid precision steel tubing; safety fuel tank in CRP sandwich tray; pneumatic four-stamp jack system
Suspension (front)MacPherson axle with pushrods and wishbone, additionally with adjustable shock absorbers, H&R coil springs
Suspension (rear)As front
Length4,395  mm (173  in)
Width2,010  mm (79  in)
Height1,205  mm (47  in)
Wheelbase 2,512  mm (99  in)
Engine BMW P65B44 4.36  L (4,360  cc; 266  cu in) V8 90° cylinder angle, 32-valve, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated (no turbocharger), front engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Hewland/Xtrac 6-speed semi-automatic, paddle-shift gearbox, mechanical limited slip differential with additional oil/air cooler
Power480 hp (358 kW) at 7000 rpm (including air restrictor)
500 hp (373 kW) @ 7500 rpm (excluding air restrictor), Over 480  N⋅m (354  ft⋅lbf) at 5500 rpm torque
Weight1,150  kg (2,535  lb) (excluding driver and fuel)
1,245  kg (2,745  lb) (including driver and fuel)
Fuel VP Racing Fuels Ethanol E85 + 15% gasoline
Lubricants Castrol EDGE later Pennzoil
Tyres Michelin
Front: 300/680 - R18
Rear: 310/710 - R18
BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik/O.Z. Racing aluminum wheels
Front: 12.5 x 18 inches
Rear: 13 x 18 inches
Competition history
Notable entrants Flag of Germany.svg / Flag of the United States.svg BMW Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg BMW Sports Trophy Marc VDS
Notable drivers Flag of the United States.svg Bill Auberlen
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Maxime Martin
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Müller
Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand
Flag of Germany.svg Uwe Alzen
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Müller
Flag of the United States.svg John Edwards
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Priaulx
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Werner
Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bruno Spengler
Debut 2013 12 Hours of Sebring
First win 2013 American Le Mans Series at Long Beach
Last win 2015 4 Hours of Estoril
Last event 2015 4 Hours of Estoril
RacesWins Poles F/Laps
35642
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The BMW Z4 GTE is a racing car which competed in the sports car races such as the American Le Mans Series, Tudor United SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series. It competed from 2013 to 2015 and was replaced in 2016 by the M6 GTLM. [1]

Contents

Development

In late 2012, BMW Motorsport set out to replace the successful M3 GT/GT2, a car which brought BMW two team and manufacturers' championships (2010 & 2011), one drivers' championship (2011), back to back Sebring 12 Hour GT class wins in 2011 and 2012 in the American Le Mans Series, as well as numerous victories in the then Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (now the World Endurance Championship) in Europe. BMW turned to the successful Z4 GT3 platform to develop a LM GTE specification race car for the ALMS, and any GTE class series.

Technical

The Z4 GTE uses the Z4 body and the same 4.4-litre V8 engine as the GT3 car. The drivetrain and gearbox are much the same in the two different types of Z4. The engine in the GT3 version produces around 500 horsepower, likewise in the GTE version, but the RPM limits are 9000, and 7500, respectively. Most of the differences between the two automobiles are in aerodynamics. The GT3 car has a much more sophisticated aero, with a set of winglets on the front fenders to provide additional downforce. Both cars share a front splitter, while the GTE has slight modifications on the side edges to condition the airflow around the front wheels. The GT3 version also has a double-deck rear wing, with the GTE car having a single deck wing. The rear diffuser is also less aggressive in the GTE car; it also has much wider bodywork in the rear of the car, with heavily modified aero around the wheel arches, front, and specifically rear, compared to the GT3.

American Le Mans Series

The car was debuted at the 2013 12 Hours of Sebring by BMW Team Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing running competitively despite being a new car. Leading the GTE class at times, both Z4 GTEs encountered suspension problems with three hours to go and went 3–5 laps down from the class leaders. The cars also showed exceptional handling, but a slight lack of straight-line speed as a result. The 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix proved to be the first win for the car, with the #55 Z4 GTE driven by Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin driving a fine race, bringing home a 1-2 finish for BMW. A second win for the #56 car of John Edwards and Dirk Muller from pole position at Lime Rock Park proved the pace of the car.

Tudor United SportsCar Championship

The Z4 GTE will feature in the GTLM class of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship - a merger of the ALMS and Grand-Am, debuting at the 2014 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January.

Turner Motorsport won the inaugural 2014 Tudor United SportsCar GT-Daytona Championship with an altered version of the Z4 GT3. Drivers Dane Cameron and Markus Palttala won four races (Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen 6-Hour, Road America, and Virginia) with Cameron earning the pole position for the 12 Hours of Sebring. To compete in the GTD class, the Turner Z4 lost its GT3-spec aerodynamics, ABS, and traction control systems.

Competition history

Complete American Le Mans Series results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete American Le Mans Series results
YearEntrantClassDriversNo.Rds.RoundsPts.Pos.
12345678910
2013 Flag of the United States.svg BMW Team RLL GT Flag of the United States.svg Bill Auberlen
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Maxime Martin
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Müller
Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand
Flag of Germany.svg Uwe Alzen
551-9
1-7, 9-10
1, 10
8
10
SEB
4
LBH
1
LAG
DNF
LRP
4
MOS
5
ELK
7
BAL
4
COA
4
VIR
5
PET
4
2nd140
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Müller
Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand
Flag of the United States.svg John Edwards
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Auberlen
56All
1-2, 5, 7, 9
1, 3-4, 6, 8, 10
10
SEB
7
LBH
2
LAG
3
LRP
1
MOS
6
ELK
8
BAL
3
COA
3
VIR
4
PET
2
Sources: [2] [3]

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
YearEntrantClassDriversNo.Rds.RoundsPts.Pos.
1234567891011
2014 Flag of the United States.svg BMW Team RLL GTLM Flag of the United States.svg Bill Auberlen
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Priaulx
Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Maxime Martin
55All
All
1-2, 11
1
DAY
2
SEB
3
LBH
6
LGA
2
WGL
10
MOS
6
IMS
6
ELK
8
VIR
4
COT
6
PET
10
7th298
Flag of the United States.svg John Edwards
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Müller
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Werner
Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal
56All
All
1-2, 11
1
DAY
4
SEB
10
LBH
2
LGA
10
WGL
6
MOS
4
IMS
7
ELK
2
VIR
3
COT
7
PET
7
5th300
2015 Flag of the United States.svg BMW Team RLL GTLM Flag of the United States.svg John Edwards
Flag of Germany.svg Lucas Luhr
Flag of Germany.svg Jens Klingmann
Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal
24All
All
1-2, 10
1
DAY
4
SEB
4
LBGP
5
LGA
1
WGL
8
MOS
2
ELK
6
VIR
4
AUS
7
PET
2
5th291
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Auberlen
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Werner
Flag of Brazil.svg Augusto Farfus
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bruno Spengler
25All
All
1-2, 10
1
DAY
2
SEB
8
LBGP
1
LGA
2
WGL
3
MOS
4
ELK
5
VIR
5
AUS
1
PET
4
2nd305
Sources: [2] [4] [5]


Complete European Le Mans Series results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete European Le Mans Series results
YearEntrantClassDriversNo.Rds.RoundsPts.Pos.
12345792nd
2015 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg BMW Sports Trophy Marc VDS LMGTE Flag of France.svg Henry Hassid
Flag of Finland.svg Jesse Krohn
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Priaulx
52All
All
All
SIL
4
IMO
4
RBR
4
LEC
2
EST
1
Source: [2] [6]


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References

  1. "2016 BMW M6 GTLM". www.topspeed.com. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Complete Archive of BMW Z4 GTE". Racing Sports Cars. pp.  1, 2. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  3. "2013 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES PRESENTED BY TEQUILA PATRÓN CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS" (PDF). Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  4. "2014 TUDOR Championship Official Points REVISED.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  5. "2015 TUDOR Championship Points Standings - Official.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. "2015 LMGTE Drivers Classification". European Le Mans Series. Retrieved 6 March 2024.