With the Le Mans 24 Hours in full swing, we figured now can be the precise time to share a number of the nerdy information BMW revealed to us over the weekend. The M Hybrid V8, competing within the LMDh class, have to be persistently quick on Circuit de la Sarthe whereas attempting to find racing glory. Onboard telemetry reveals that the electrified machine reaches a velocity of 211 mph (340 km/h) on the well-known Mulsanne Straight.
Nevertheless it takes greater than high velocity to win. BMW advised us that for about half the race, the M Hybrid V8 averages greater than 155 mph (250 km/h). It’s price noting that the 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine powering M’s flagship race automotive isn’t shared with any road-legal mannequin. The P66/3 has its roots in DTM, particularly within the M4 used in the course of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. It produces round 640 hp and 650 Nm, although output is restricted by laws.
The M Hybrid V8’s engine alone has 4,306 components and makes use of 1,006 several types of elements. In its unique DTM kind, the engine was naturally aspirated earlier than switching to compelled induction. As for the electrical motor, battery, and transmission, these essential components are shared with different race automobiles to adjust to laws. Every little thing was designed round a bespoke chassis provided by Dallara. At Le Mans, the closed-cockpit BMW race automotive should have a minimal weight of 1,030 kilograms (2,270 kilos).
BMW didn’t need to construct a street-legal homologation particular. How cool wouldn’t it have been if a highway automotive had been necessary? Porsche did it anyway, albeit as a one-off 963 RSP it unveiled only a few days in the past. Toyota and Peugeot additionally thought of road-going variations at one level. Nonetheless, each in the end deserted the concept of placing a license plate on their endurance racers.
The M Hybrid V8 is presently solely a factory-backed effort, however BMW M Motorsport chief Andreas Roos isn’t ruling out promoting the hybrid endurance race automotive to non-public groups. BMW returned to Le Mans final 12 months to repeat the V12 LMR’s 1999 triumph.
