Nitschke was previously responsible for the MINI Series within the Development division, and has held various management positions in the Controlling and Development divisions since joining the company in 1978.

Segler who has been with the company since 1988, will move to become responsible for MINI brand management.

We met Dr Segler two years ago, shortly after he took up his new position as Managing Director of BMW M Division, and were impressed by his plans for the marque. Segler had previously managed the MINI brand between 2004 and 2008, but set about his new role with gusto, describing the M-brand as “Childhood automotive dreams realised”. You can read his comments in our interview, ‘In the driving seat at BMW’s M Division’.

More than any other M Division boss, Segler was visible at the front-line of the brand’s activities, involved in launching the X5 M & X6 M, 1 Series M Coupe and M3 GTS. He was fond of starring in the brand’s promotional videos and just recently introduced the first teaser video of the new F10-based M5.

2 years has not been enough to see Segler’s plans through to fruition, but we wish him well in his new role and wait to find out what Dr. Nitschke will bring to M Division and its future models.

Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, takes over from Dr. Kay Segler as President of BMW M GmbH from 1st May 2011.

The best submissions will earn the chance to join the BMW development team for exclusive test drives, plus the opportunity to attend the launch of BMW’s newest (and baddest) M Car. Just register your interest in the closed room at http://www.m-power.com.

Here’s what Dr Segler had to say about the offer when interviewed on m-power.com:

M-Power.com: “Dr. Segler, have you driven the new BMW M5 yet? What can you tell our readers?”

Dr. Kay Segler: “We believe the new BMW M5 is one of the most fascinating expressions of the BMW M genes ever seen. A business sedan and an automobile with the emotional density and driving experience of a supersports car.

Many of our customers are highly successful business people who wish to sense the same intensity in their automobile as they do in their lives generally – every second they spend at the wheel.

With the same dedication which is so often the secret of our customers’ success, our engineers have created an incomparable car.

With the BMW M5 our aim is to make automobile dreams come true – and that means your dreams. Many of those waiting impatiently for the new BMW M5 know what I’m talking about.

Send us the dreams you personally associate with the new BMW M5.

We will send out invitations to some of those who send in their ideas within the Online Closed Room of M-Power.com. They will have the opportunity to take part in the last set-up test drives and exclusive launch events for the new BMW M5.”

Sounds like a great opportunity.

The 1 Series M Coupé was in Paris yesterday, prior to its unveiling, and for the first time we can really see what Dr Segler was referring to with that paint colour (rumoured to be called Valencia Orange Metallic, according to bmwblog.com). With such a stunning paint colour, its 340+ bhp straight six turbocharged engine and agile handling, this is already one of the most eagerly anticipated M-cars of the past decade.

We’ll tweet further news on @DriversRepublic when we receive it.

The BMW Z4 GT3, which was officially launched and completed its first test drives at the start of March, is already enjoying great popularity among BMW Motorsport customers. The first cars have been delivered to private BMW teams, who will prepare them for use in various national and international championships.

“The feedback on the BMW Z4 GT3 is extremely positive,” says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. “This sports car rounds off our product range, and offers drivers and teams the opportunity to compete in championships in accordance with the GT3 regulations – such as the FIA GT3 European Championship, the International GT Open or the ADAC GT Masters – as well as at 24-hour endurance races.”

In addition, the BMW M3 GT2, the BMW 320si WTCC, which complies with Super2000 regulations, and the close-to-production BMW M3 GT4 are also available to customer teams from all over the world at BMW Motorsport Distribution.

The production model of the BMW Z4 provided BMW Motorsport engineers with a good basis for developing a close-to-production GT3 racing car. The largest difference between production and racing car can be found under the bonnet: while the production version of the BMW Z4 is driven by a six-cylinder engine, the GT3 car is powered by a 4.0-litre eight-cylinder engine similar to the unit used in the BMW M3 GT2.

This powerful heart produces over 480 bhp – its excellent performance characteristics and good torque curve make the base engine from the production version of the BMW M3 predestined for use in motorsport.

The fitting of the V8 engine had a considerable influence on the development of the BMW Z4 GT3. Initially, design-space examinations were performed using CATIA V5 design software, in order to place the engine in the ideal position and meet racing specifications. The engineers then added all the other components.

Listen to the guttaral sound of BMW's Z4 GT3 at around 7 seconds into this video. Source:BMW Blog

When it comes to electronics, the private teams can look forward to innovative BMW solutions, which have already been tried and tested on the BMW M3 GT2: the modern ECU408 takes over the engine management, while the Power400 electronic control unit is responsible for controlling all the actuators. The power is transmitted through a six-speed, sequential gearbox with a “Quick Shift” function.

Rims with central locking and safety clip are also included in delivery. In addition, the BMW Z4 GT3 offers driver assistance systems such as racing ABS and traction control, which have been adopted from other cars in the customer racing range, and then further developed and modified for use in the GT3 car.

The front axle of the BMW Z4 GT3 is a completely new design, based on a series design. It is equipped with a tubular stabiliser bar with adjustable blades. The rear axle is designed as a longitudinal link axle, as with the series version of the BMW Z4.

During the development, BMW Motorsport engineers worked hand in hand in other areas with their colleagues from series production, utilising BMW Group facilities when designing the car’s aerodynamics and performing bench tests.

Front and rear wings, bonnet, roof, fender and many other components are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP). Using this lightweight, torsion-resistant material contributed significantly to reducing the weight of the BMW Z4 GT3 to 1,200 kilograms.

The BMW Z4 GT3 is available as a racing car at a cost of 298,000 Euros (plus VAT). Interested teams can request further information by emailing Z4GT3@bmw-motorsport.com.

We’d love to see this V8 engine make it into an M version of the road car and if you have read our interview with Dr Theissen last month then you’ll be aware that he wouldn’t deny such a possibility – in fact we know that the teams from BMW Motorsport and BMW M Division have been working closely on several projects, so let’s keep our fingers-crossed…

The V8 engine has been fettled to produced 480 bhp and will be sold to private teams at ‘around’ 298,000 Euros plus taxes (approx. £250,000).

Well now we have some pictures of the first customer car, being run by Schubert Motorsport and backed by BMW Motorsport. The pictures show the car performing shakedown runs at the Paul Ricard High Test Track in France.

The Schubert BMW Z4 GT3 will make its debut race on May 2nd in Silverstone in the FIA GT3 series and we’ll bring you more pictures and news during the next few months.

Source: BMWBlog via JONSIBAL

Schubert Motorsport

FIA GT3 European Championship

BMW have said in the past that the M3′s V8 engine was not suitable for the new Z4, hence the recent S35is in lieu of an M version, however perhaps this Z4 GT3 may point towards a road version being available at some point in the current model’s lifespan.

The 480 horsepower engine mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox unrelated to the M3′s double-clutch DCT system.

The price is currently estimated at ‘around’ 298,000 Euros plus taxes (approx. £250,000), which might seem a lot, however bear in mind that this car replaces the E89-based Z4 M Coupe race car which was priced at 250,000 Euros back in 2006 and was powered by a ‘mere’ 400 bhp.

As part of its customer racing programme, BMW Motorsport is offering private teams another attractive car from 2010: the BMW Z4 GT3. This sports car is an impressive addition to the BMW product range and offers drivers and teams the opportunity to compete in international and national championships in accordance with GT3 regulations – such as the FIA GT3 European Championship, International GT Open and the ADAC GT Masters – as well as in 24-hour endurance races.

The BMW Z4 GT3 is powered by a four-litre, eight-cylinder engine producing approximately 480 bhp. When it comes to electronics, the private teams can look forward to innovative BMW solutions, which have proven themselves in the BMW M3 GT2: the engine is controlled by the modern ECU 408, while the Power400 control unit is responsible for operating all actuators. The transmission takes place via a sequential, six-speed gearbox. The scope of delivery also includes rims with locking and safety clips, as well as racing ABS and optional air conditioning.

The BMW Z4 GT3 in its racing version is available from the second quarter of 2010 at an estimated price of 298,000 Euro (plus VAT).

Rossi was invited to experience some fast laps in the new M3 GTS, but in the end he wanted to drive it. The nine times MotoGP champion took to the Valencia track in the lightweight M3 GTS together with MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta in the passenger seat. Rossi was supposed to stop at the end of his first lap, but he decided to do another lap even more quickly.

Rossi was eventually prised out of the M3 GTS so that he could be presented with his M3 Saloon, but said, “It was amazing in the GTS. Just amazing. It was great, especially under braking with the light weight that it has.” In fact Rossi was already enquiring about how he could get hold of one for himself, but apparently there have already been more than 300 serious enquiries about the car since it’s launch three days ago.

Thomas Schemera, the Director of Sales and Marketing for BMW M Power who handed over the keys of the M3 to Rossi said, “It was our intention for Valentino to have a seat in the M3 GTS, but in the end he wanted to drive it, so he did! I think he is very convinced about the features and the abilities of the car and we would be very happy to let him have one of the hand built cars that echoes the iconic 3.0 CSL racer from the mid 70s.”

BMW will continue to supply Safety Cars, Official Cars and VIP Shuttles to the Moto GP series until 2013, using vehicles from BMW’s M Power stable.

Rossi finished 2nd in today’s Moto GP round in Valencia, followed home by team mate Jorge Lorenzo. Spain’s Dani Pedrosa won this final race of the 2009 season.

Photos courtesy of BMW & Moto GP.

Valentino Rossi who won an M3 at today’s Moto GP in Valencia also had a run in this M3 GTS, he was only supposed to do a single lap, but he escaped BMW’s PR people by driving through the pits and went on to circulate Valencia’s twisty circuit again. I guess that means he likes it..

We’ve also added an extended version of the original video revealed last week.