Brought to the market as a replacement for the 1 Series Coupe, the 2 Series->ke2065 inherited everything that made the former a great, back-to-the-roots Bimmer->ke178. Introduced in 2013, the 2 Series lineup grew larger in a flash by incorporating the mandatory M235i and the future M2 guises. But unlike most BMWs, the 2 Series also gained a racing version under the M235i Racing moniker.

Why did BMW choose the M235i and not the more nimble and powerful M2 for a race car project you may ask? That's easy. The M235i Racing is supposed to be an entry-level race car->ke148 that small privateers and amateur drivers can afford. It's not a race car that can win a head-to-head battle with the Audi R8 LMS Ultra, but it does provide the thrills of racing for less than $90,000. That may sound like a lot even for a BMW-badged vehicle, but it's pretty cheap given today's racing->ke447 scene.

Introduced last year, the 2014 BMW M235i Racing is already doing what it knows best at the hands of private teams, but the Germans decided to step in and field an entry of their own at this year's Nurburgring->ke999 24 Hours race.

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M235i Racing Nurburgring 24 Hours Edition.

2014 BMW M235i Racing Nurburgring 24 Hours Edition

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 BMW M235i Racing Nurburgring 24 Hours Edition
  • Engine/Motor: inline-6
  • Horsepower: 333
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Ugliest Livery of 2014 Candidate

Although the Nurburgring grid was packed with BMW M235i Racing vehicles, with 14 of them showing up for the event, BMW's entry took center stage as the main attraction, thanks to its exclusive and a little overwhelming livery. Finished in the blue and red colors of the M Performance division, the race car pays tribute to the famous BMW Art Cars that used to wow the crowds back in the 1970s and 1980s. Though we can respect this car's lineage, we can't help but notice how extremely ugly it is.

Just like the regular M235i Racing, the Nurburgring 24 Hours race car lapped the Nordschleife with a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine under the hood. Aided by BMW's TwinPower Turbo technology, the mill sends 333 horsepower to the pavement, 11 more than the standard, road-going vehicle. Other enhancements include a limited-slip differential, a FIA-approved roll-cage, and motorsport-specific driver aids such as ABS, DSC and traction control.

The M235i Racing Nurburgring 24 Hours finished the race in 53rd. That may not sound as an achievement, but bear in mind that this year's race brought together 165 race cars. Only the fact that the M235i was able to race for 24 hours continuously is something BMW can be proud of.

Competitors

Opel Astra OPC Cup

The BMW M235i Racing raced alongside many vehicle at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, but the Opel Astra OPC Cup was its closest rival as far as performance and specifications go. Developed as a successor to the Nurburgring-winning Astra V8 Coupe, the OPC Cup is a beefed up version of the production car modified with input from the company's Motorsport division.

The coupe received a widebody kit set to enhance its aerodynamics, had its curb weight lowered via carbon-fiber components and gained high-performance chassis parts, including a Bilstein performance suspension and Performance Friction brakes. The turbocharged, 2.0-liter engine was also updated to generate 300 horsepower, slightly more than the production coupe.

BMW M235i Racing