The BMW M2 MotoGP car is 1.7 tonnes and 450bhp of safety

Giving a 1.7-tonne lump of metal, rubber and plastic 450bhp with which to drive at speed isn't what you'd call 'safe'. Never mind on a track full of extraordinarily fast motorcycles carrying barely-protected riders. Nonetheless, here is MotoGP's new safety car.

Yep, this BMW M2 is the official safety car of MotoGP, with the German manufacturer now in its 25th as the series' supplier. Which is ironic if you consider how your average 25-year-old BMW is driven. Or indeed five-year-old BMW. 

But unlike the average BMW you see on the road, this M2 is a little different.

To make sure the M2 safety car fulfils the safe side of things, it comes with the requisite roll bar, Recaro seats, six-point racing harnesses and fire extinguisher, as well as a light bar across the roof and matching front lights.

But even though the car side of things was already pretty well stitched up, Bee Em saw fit to replace many standard parts with ones from the M Performance catalogue – the exhaust, diffuser, wing mirror covers and that big ol’ rear wing are all added extras. 

Also included is BMW's Performance Suspension, which is stiffer and lower than standard. And closer to the ground is safer, right?