zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
A Wacky Experimental BMW Le Mans Car Is Exactly What Modern Racing Needs
A Wacky Experimental BMW Le Mans Car Is Exactly What Modern Racing Needs-April 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:28

BMW has been making Vision Next 100 all year long for their 100th birthday, and they’re delightfully bonkers. They didn’t just make a regular car with an alternative powertrain and impractical seats. They went full kook with and even a car. Best of all, we know exactly where kookiness is encouraged: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Le Mans’ program has brought us a little bit of everything rad over the years, from this year’s car built for a to the original . It’s a special entry specifically designed for off-the-wall innovation that doesn’t fit into any specific class regulations—one of the last true open spaces in motorsport. It’s there to encourage new ideas that could eventually shake up the rest of the racing world.

Best of all, BMW is thinking about it, reports . They’re also considering a top-class LMP1 prototype since new regulations will open the class to more cutting-edge technology in 2018, but BMW’s board already shot down one LMP1 proposal, which had a rumored $450 million first-year and development budget.

A Garage 56 entry would be a lot less expensive—just for Le Mans as opposed to a full racing season—and could have far more overlap with existing concepts and real-car tech if they so desired.

Sure, BMW is already jumping back into the World Endurance Championship—of which Le Mans is a part—with a, but that’s all about making the most of currently accepted racing technology, not the weirdo next-tech ideas that they’ve whipped out in various concepts this year.

Garage 56 can be hit-or-miss. While next year’s is relevant to my interests every time I even think about having a burrito, Le Mans has had years where the garage went empty. 2013's hydrogen-powered car couldn’t get ready in time, and in 2015, the Automobile Club l’Ouest didn’t receive a single application that was up to snuff.

That’s why Garage 56 needs another major marque to step in and go crazy. BMW would have the resources to do a properly weird and innovative Garage 56 car, and could showcase some of its future-tech ideas in the most grueling environment possible: one full day of racing.

Do a Garage 56 entry, BMW. Give us , auto-adjusting seats and all of the concept-grade insanity you can dream up in a functional race car.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
Monster Is Really Making A Bang In NASCAR
Monster Is Really Making A Bang In NASCAR
Tires have been particularly tricky in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway this time around, and one of the recent victims was the Monster Energy car of Kurt Busch. If Monster hasn’t made a figurative bang so far, well, it has now—literally. This was the...
Apr 2, 2026
Bask In The Glory Of Awesome Sports Cars Racing In Detroit
Bask In The Glory Of Awesome Sports Cars Racing In Detroit
This weekend, a pack of IMSA’s best took to the Raceway at Belle Isle Park, and I was on the ground to cover the action. There were plenty of fast cars just begging to be photographed, so, naturally, I did. I picked out a selection of shots you may or...
Apr 2, 2026
A NASCAR Fan Climbed The Catch Fence Again But No One Threw A Caution For It
A NASCAR Fan Climbed The Catch Fence Again But No One Threw A Caution For It
Nearly three years after during a race at Richmond International Raceway, it happened again Sunday. NASCAR never even threw a caution for this guy, and reports that local police said he “kicked an officer in the knee” while being taken into custody. This fan, identified by USA Today as John...
Apr 2, 2026
Your Ridiculously Awesome Ferrari 488 GT3 Wallpaper Is Here
Your Ridiculously Awesome Ferrari 488 GT3 Wallpaper Is Here
There’s just something about a mean-looking race car staring you right in the eyes. Meet the Ferrari 488 GT3 racer from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which finished second in its class at the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic in Detroit over the weekend. Our dear photographer friend Kurt Bradley ,...
Apr 2, 2026
Brighten Your Afternoon With This Glorious, Glowing Corvette That'll Race At Le Mans
Brighten Your Afternoon With This Glorious, Glowing Corvette That'll Race At Le Mans
Over the years, BMW’s art cars have been... interesting. For instance, last year’s car in a strangely narcissistic, minimalist way. The most recent . But this art car from Team Larbre Competition for the 24 Hours of Le Mans just blew BMW out of the water. The team shared photos...
Apr 2, 2026
This Wet NASCAR Road Course Battle Will Completely Melt Your Brain
This Wet NASCAR Road Course Battle Will Completely Melt Your Brain
NASCAR is the butt of many jokes over the fact that they run any of their ovals in the rain. But NASCAR will run on a wet road course. The perfect combination of a soaking wet track and ludicrously powerful stock cars is more fun than anyone deserves to watch,...
Apr 2, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved