BMW, torna la M3 V8 GT, nell'ALMS con Rahal-Letterman

Arriva il nuovo gioiello BMW per l'American Le Mans Series. E' stata presentata infatti, al Chicago Auto Show, la nuova M3 V8 GT2, affidata sia come sviluppo che come gestione in pista al Rahal Letterman Racing. La vettura tedesca si aggiunge ad un corposo schieramento GT che includerà Porsche, Ferrari, Panoz, Aston Martin, Chevrolet, Dodge e Ford. Ancora da confermare eventuali gare già da questa stagione, così come il doppio impegno in IndyCar Series.

La scheda tecnica

Weight: 2,535 lbs./1150 kg
Tank capacity: 29 gallons/110 Liters

Chassis/body: 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

Aerodynamics: Front fenders, rear apron, hood, roof, trunk lid, rear wing, front wings, and flared rear wheel arches in CRP

Transmission: Carbon fiber clutch with hydraulic central slave cylinder; 6-speed sequential racing transmission with straight-cut, unsynchronized gears;

Front axle: Based on production version, with increased wheel caster angle, enlarged track width and enhanced wheel camber; five-way adjustable shock absorbers; tubular stabilizer bar

Rear axle: Based on production version, with enlarged track width and enhanced wheel camber; five-way adjustable shock absorbers, tubular stabilizer bar

Front brake system: Six-piston aluminum brake calipers, inner-vented grey-cast iron brake disks 15.0 in./380mm in diameter
Rear brake system: Four-piston aluminum brake calipers, grey-cast iron brake disk, 13.1 in./332mm in diameter

Steering: Rack and pinion steering with electro-hydraulic power
Wheels: Aluminum wheels, 18 inches

BMW P65 Engine.
Type: Eight cylinder, V-configuration
Capacity: 3999 cc
Bore x stroke: 92 x 75.2 mm/3.62 x 2.96 in.
Max. output: approx. 485 bhp
Max. torque: approx. 368 lb-ft/500 Nm
Cylinder block: Aluminum cylinder block construction with bed plate lower section
Cylinder head: Aluminum DOHC (Double Over Head
Camshaft); four valves per cylinder
Valve train: Four overhead chain-driven camshafts, valve actuation via rocker arms
Intake system: Eight throttle valves, made of CRP with load-charge optimized ram tubes
Exhaust system: Headers, mufflers
Fuel system: Single cylinder multi-point injection
Lubrication: Dry sump lubrication
Cooling: Water/air cooler and oil/water heat exchanger

Engine management: BMW Motorsport ECU 408 with two high-performance micro-processors; Individual cylinder injection and ignition;