The BMW M2 CS Racing has joined the MotoGP safety car line-up

Say hello to the new MotoGP safety car: the BMW M2 CS Racing. Yep, the latest addition to the manufacturer’s safety car fleet is a pure-bred race car turned safety car, as part of BMW M’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

For its upcoming role it wears a special BMW M-themed livery, plus new front lights and roof-mounted lightbar. Shouldn’t be too difficult to spot, then.

Tweaks under the skin are otherwise kept to a minimum, with the M2 CS Racing already sporting a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six producing up to 444bhp, a mechanical limited-slip differential with pre-load and separate cooling, as well as specially manufactured drive shafts and a carbon roof.

“The BMW M2 CS Racing has been successful in a wide range of championships – and, as a thoroughbred race car, is perfectly suited to leading the field as the safety car in the pinnacle of motorcycle racing,” said Frank van Meel, BMW M CEO.

With BMW coming into its 24th season as official safety car partner, the M2 CS Racing will be joined by the M3 and M4 Competition, M5 CS, M8 Competition Gran Coupé, X5 M Competition and two BMW M 1000 RR safety bikes. Quite the collection.

The fully electric BMW i4 M50 will also lead the field in the MotoE World Cup, the electric motorcycle series held alongside MotoGP.

You can expect to see the BMW M2 CS Racing in its new role at the season opener on 6 March in Qatar. Will you be watching?