German automotive company BMW has extended its contract as the official car of the MotoGP motorcycling championship until 2020, while it has signed on in the same capacity for the new Formula E motor-racing series.
BMW has been providing the safety car fleet to MotoGP since 1999, and the partnership will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2019 following the new contract with the series’ commercial rights-holder Dorna Sports.
BMW has continuously expanded its MotoGP activities in recent years. Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been presented to the best MotoGP qualifier at the end of each season. Meanwhile, the BMW M MotoGP Experience operates at race weekends giving visitors insight into what goes on behind the scenes, courtesy of experts like former world champion Loris Capirossi.
Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, chief executive of BMW M, said: “Since 1999, it has been of great importance to us to help guarantee the safety of the world’s top motorcyclists through the use of our cars and the latest technology. At the same time, MotoGP is also the perfect platform on which to further raise the global awareness of BMW M GmbH and our products. Extending the contract through to 2020 means that this partnership will now run for over two decades. A partnership of this length is a rarity, and we are proud of our close and successful cooperation with Dorna Sports.”
Meanwhile, BMW signed on to back the inaugural 2014-15 season of Formula E ahead of the fully electric series’ first race in Beijing, China on Saturday. For all Formula E races during the debut season, the German marque will provide two of its new hybrid i8 sportscars to be used as the safety car, together with two fully-electric i3 models to act as the medical and driver extraction cars.
Jörg Reimann, vice-president of BMW Brand Experience, said: “Fully-electric single-seater racing cars, narrow street circuits in the heart of major cities around the world, and an innovative incorporation of fans via social networks: the concept of the series is interesting in many ways. This makes it attractive for us to be involved in the inaugural season of the new FIA Formula E Championship.”