BMW working to increase grid size in the M2 Cup Iberia

The BMW M2 Cup Iberia has continued to grow since the start of its inaugural season, evolving from a single-car entry into a more competitive grid featuring new contenders. The championship’s growth, underpinned by the competitiveness of the BMW M2 Racing, interest from drivers and teams, and an attractive prize package, was particularly evident at the most recent round in Valencia.

With global demand for the all-new car remaining high, leading to extended delivery times, the Iberian competition began its season in the Algarve with a single BMW M2 Racing, entered by LOB Motorsport for ‘Kika’ Queiroz. The series therefore started building its presence with a relatively small grid, but growth soon followed as the Bavarian manufacturer increased deliveries of its new racing car.

At Jarama, the grid welcomed new contenders with the arrival of the FPAK Junior Team cars, allowing Diego Sirgado, Bernardo Passanha, Nathan Corbet and Gonçalo Moura to continue their development as racing drivers. Their arrival represented an important step in the growth of the series and reinforced its position as a platform for introducing and developing young talent.

The upward trend continued in Valencia, where another competitor joined the grid. Daniel Casas made his debut in the championship at the wheel of a BMW M2 Racing prepared by Promotion Motorsport, a team already familiar with the demands of GT racing that also represents BMW España Motorsport in Supercars Endurance with a BMW M4 GT4 Evo. Casas’s arrival strengthened BMW’s presence on the grid and contributed to a round featuring intense battles between the M2 Racing cars for podium positions.

For José Ramón Montoya, BMW España’s competition manager, the progress made throughout the season confirms that the decision to launch a new competitive format was the right one, while also demonstrating the positive reception it has received from participants.

“We are very pleased with the participation in the M2 Cup Iberia during its first year. Launching a new competition is always a challenge, and seeing drivers and teams respond with such commitment and enthusiasm confirms that we were on the right track. Furthermore, another M2 Racing joined the grid at the most recent round in Valencia, which is excellent news and demonstrates that interest in the cup continues to grow”, he emphasises.

The expansion of the grid has been accompanied by competitive racing and intense battles for podium positions. In Valencia, the BMWs were involved in close duels that highlighted the competitive potential of the M2 Racing, one of the key strengths of a formula designed to combine controlled costs, accessibility and opportunities for progression in motorsport.

The championship’s appeal, however, extends beyond on-track performance. The winner of the BMW M2 Cup Iberia will earn a test at the wheel of an official BMW España GT4 car competing in Supercars Endurance, providing an opportunity to experience a category with a higher level of competitive demands. This incentive is complemented by cash prizes awarded at every event: €1,800 to each race winner, €900 for second place and €300 for third. In total, €6,000 in prize money is distributed among the podium finishers at each event.

BMW España now aims to build on the interest generated throughout the season to attract new competitors and consolidate the championship. To this end, it organised a test day for drivers and teams interested in experiencing the new M2 Racing before considering an entry in the series.

“Looking ahead, we want to continue taking steps towards increasing participation in the cup. That is why we organised a test day at the Jarama-RACE circuit during October. It gave other drivers and teams the opportunity to try the new M2 Racing and, if they were convinced by what they experienced, join the championship for the upcoming races”, explains José Ramón Montoya.

The BMW España representative also highlights the contribution of everyone involved in the project, stressing that the continued development of the M2 Cup Iberia depends both on the manufacturer’s commitment and on the confidence shown by the organisers, drivers and teams that backed the new model from the outset.

“At BMW, we would like to thank the organisers, drivers and teams who believed in the new M2 Racing from the very beginning. Without their confidence, this project would not have been possible. As a manufacturer, we are proud to offer our customers a platform such as the M2 Cup Iberia, designed to allow them to enjoy competitive racing while also contributing to the development of young drivers”, he states.

The BMW M2 Cup Iberia will return to action from 6 to 8 November at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto, as part of the Jerez Iberian Racing Festival. The event forms part of the Supercars Endurance calendar and will count towards all three championships within the series: Iberian Supercars, the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade and Campeonato de España de Supercars. It will provide another opportunity for BMW’s competition to strengthen its presence and attract new drivers as the season approaches its conclusion.