“Having introduced our new BMW SIM Cup formats at BMW SIM Live last December, it is now time to get down to the serious business, as the first races are just around the corner,” said Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW Motorsport SIM Racing. “We are understandably excited to see how our new race formats and the wider range of BMW race cars will be received by the sim racing community. We are now active on three major platforms: iRacing, rFactor 2 and Assetto Corsa Competizione. This allows us to reach a far larger group of sim racers and their fans than last year. We are obviously hoping to attract a lot of top-class competitors, as well as to receive expert feedback on our race formats and cars, which helps us to keep improving all the time. I am looking forward to spectacular events – both during the season and at the grand finals, which will take place at BMW SIM Live 2021.”

The BMW SIM GT Cup is the successor to the BMW SIM 120 Cup. Divided into two seasons, a total of ten races will take place in 2021. In the five rounds that comprise Season 1, sim racers go head to head in teams of two in the BMW M8 GTE. In Season 2, the new BMW M4 GT3 will be the car of choice for the teams. The winners of the first four races of each season qualify directly for the grand final at BMW SIM Live 2021. They are joined by the top two teams in the fifth race of the respective seasons. A total prize purse of 4,200 US dollars is up for grabs for the top three teams in the first four races of each season. As in 2020, the races are 120 minutes long and include a mandatory driver changeover. The dates have already been confirmed for Season 1 in the BMW M8 GTE, with the opening round taking place at the virtual ‘Daytona International Speedway’ on 17^th January. The dates and circuits for the second season, in the BMW M4 GT3, will be announced at a later date.

Dates, Season 1:

17^th January: Daytona

7^th March: Suzuka

21^st March: Silverstone

2^nd May: Road Atlanta

16^th May: Nürburgring (Season 1 final)

Same car, same simulation platform, but new format. This year’s BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup features as a support series for the popular and top-class rFactor 2 GT Pro Series. As a result, the BMW one-make cup will take place at different racetracks, whereas it was previously held exclusively at the Nürburgring and on the Nordschleife. As with the BMW SIM GT Cup, two seasons are planned over the course of the year. Each will consist of six races. The action gets underway on 8^th March at Imola. The dates have already been confirmed for all the races in the first season, with the dates for the second season to follow later. The winners of each race will qualify for the final at BMW SIM Live. The top three at each event will share a total prize purse of € 1,850.

Dates, Season 1:

8^th March: Imola

22^nd March: Spa-Francorchamps

5^th April: Silverstone

19^th April: Nürburgring

3^rd May: Sebring

17^th May: Circuit still to be confirmed