Synergies between motorsport and sim racing: BMW M4 GT4

Munich. The BMW M2020 GT4 played a major role in the technology transfer between real motorsport and sim racing in the 4 season. The introduction of the vehicle on the iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione simulation platforms also represents a new dimension in the creation of synergies between real and virtual racing, as does the “Livery Contest” and the virtual Track Day with the BMW M Customer Racing vehicle. BMW Motorsport SIM Racing provided intensive media coverage for all of these projects.

BMW M4 GT4

“The example of the BMW M4 GT4 is an excellent example of what we mean when we emphasize that the BMW Motorsport SIM Racing projects are also about synergies between real and digital racing. This pillar of our racing program is independent, but it goes without saying that it contributes to the entire BMW Group Motorsport, ”says Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW Motorsport SIM Racing. “Building bridges between real and digital racing makes a lot of sense in the case of a BMW M Customer Racing vehicle like the BMW M4 GT4. Many customers have explicitly asked about the implementation of this vehicle. On the one hand, to be able to drive spectacular virtual races - especially in times of pandemic - and on the other hand, to be able to train at home for the next real event and experience almost the same driving experience as in a real racing car. Because we offer a much larger group of customers the opportunity to virtually test the BMW M4 GT4 and thus get a good first impression, there may be one or two additional interested parties in a real vehicle. We will certainly apply this principle to future projects with BMW racing cars. "

Development of the digital BMW M4 GT4.

The digital version of the BMW M4 GT4 celebrated its premiere on the iRacing simulation platform at the beginning of June. In the further course of the year, the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform also introduced the vehicle. In order to make the driving experience for the sim racers as realistic as possible, the BMW Motorsport engineers worked extremely closely and transparently with their colleagues on the simulation platforms during development.

In the case of iRacing, the developers at BMW Motorsport received two data packets several gigabytes in size. Dittrich explained the process in the press release from the end of May 2020 as follows: “The first package contained the CAD data with all specifications of the vehicle parts. This is exactly the same data that a supplier receives from us in order to manufacture the real component. IRacing also scanned a real vehicle, in this case the BMW M4 GT4 from Turner Motorsport. The second large data package contains all information on the driving dynamics. We use the same data set to do a lap time simulation, for example, or to run our BMW Motorsport simulator. This includes, among other things, damper curves, engine performance curves, axle kinematics, weight distribution, aerodynamic values: We have passed on all the figures we have determined for the car to iRacing. In the end, iRacing knew just as much about the vehicle as our customer teams. "

Virtual Track Day with the BMW M4 GT4.

In order to give potential customers the opportunity to experience the BMW M4 GT4 in the racing simulator, the first BMW Motorsport SIM Racing Track Day took place at the end of June 2020. A selection of BMW M Customer Racing drivers took to the track on the virtual Nürburgring and were instructed by prominent "instructors": BMW works driver Philipp Eng, who is himself very successful in the simulator, and the three sim racers Alexander Voss, Laurin Heinrich and Nils Koch. In addition to the pure driving experience, the process of a race was also simulated, with free practice, qualifying and racing. The instructors gave the participants valuable tips on how to set up digital racing cars via voice app.

"With its various commitments and activities, BMW has long shown how seriously they take the topic of sim racing," said Eng in the press release at the time. “This event has proven this again. I think it's a great thing that the customer teams and drivers from the BMW Sports Trophy are also given the chance to talk to the SIM experts. "

BMW M4 GT4 “Livery Contest”.

In July 2020, BMW Motorsport SIM Racing announced the BMW M4 GT4 “Livery Contest” under the motto “THE FUSION OF REAL WORLD AND SIM RACING” - a design competition in which participants from the sim racing community took part Let creativity run free and even bring your dream design to the real racetrack.

Chan Wen Bin prevailed against numerous competitors with his design proposal for the BMW M4 GT4 and was able to look forward to prize money of 3.000 US dollars and the use of his design on a real racing vehicle. The BMW M Customer Racing Team FK Performance started in November 2020 with the BMW M4 GT4 in winning design at the season finale of the DTM Trophy in Hockenheim.

The 27-year-old graphic designer from Malaysia not only impressed the top-class jury around multimedia and BMW Art Car artist Cao Fei, Michael Scully (Global Automotive Director @Designworks) and BMW works driver Bruno Spengler, but also had BMW Motorsport fans in the social networks the opportunity to vote for their favorites and thus influence the decision.

"With the 'Livery Contest' on the BMW M4 GT4, we have shown that, in addition to racing drivers, you can also involve and address other communities and digitally support graphic artists and make them better known through sim racing," says Dittrich.

The BMW SIM Live on December 5, 2020.

The finals in the BMW SIM 2020 Cup and the BMW SIM M5 CS Racing Cup will take place as part of BMW SIM Live 16, which will be broadcast live on the BMW Motorsport and BMW Esports channels on December 120 from 2 p.m. When the race winners of the entire season come together, prize money totaling more than 25.000 euros is at stake.

BMW Motorsport SIM Racing uses the framework of the event to present its extensive program for the coming season. This will be significantly expanded in many areas in order to do justice to the dynamics of the rapidly emerging digital racing segment. The plans include, among other things, the brand cup competitions, hardware developments and cooperations. BMW Motorsport SIM Racing will present some spectacular world premieres on these topics at BMW SIM Live 2020.

Of course that had not happened yet!

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