This weekend marks a new chapter for European motorsport and for fans of speed. The Bavarian manufacturer’s performance division has officially announced the launch of a new single-make championship, the BMW M2 Cup. The new competition was created with a clear purpose: to function as a support series for the prestigious German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and to give talented up-and-coming drivers the chance to prove their worth on the great European circuits.
The official debut of the series will take place this very weekend, with the DTM round on the Lausitzring circuit in Germany.
As this is a single-make competition, the decisive factor on the track will not be budget or differentiated technical development, but pure talent and driving skills. All competitors registered in the BMW M2 Cup will have identical competition cars at their disposal.
This is the BMW M2 Racing, the pure-bred racing version of the famous street model. Its main features include:
To open the doors to great performance, the BMW M2 Cup requires a minimum age of just 15 years, thus offering a rare opportunity for teenagers to make the step from karting to the big touring circuits. However, the organizers have not set an upper age limit. This means that on the grid we will see an extremely interesting mix between the enthusiasm of young beginners and the experience of veteran drivers.
The new championship will be governed and sanctioned by ADAC, the official body that also manages the fate of the DTM championship, thus guaranteeing a high standard of organization, safety and fair play.
The enthusiasm behind this project is perfectly reflected by the statements of the BMW M division management, which sees this project as a natural continuation of the brand's involvement in training new generations of champions.
“We are very pleased that ADAC is organizing the BMW M2 Cup series in the 2026 season. The one-make cup has always delivered spectacular racing in the past and we can’t wait to revive it with our new entry-level vehicle. With the BMW M2 Racing we are continuing a tradition that we are proud of. Like its predecessors, it will redefine the entry-level segment. It is affordable, powerful, easy to maintain and cost-effective, with typical M precision and handling – ideal conditions for the BMW M2 Cup,” said Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW M.
Motorsport fans will be able to watch the BMW M2 Cup show on some of Germany's most legendary circuits during race weekends where the DTM GT3 class cars will put on a show.
The full calendar includes the following stages:
With a spectacular car, controlled costs and the huge media exposure offered by the DTM platform, the BMW M2 Cup promises to be one of the most attractive launch pad competitions in Europe. It remains to be seen who will be able to claim their first historic victory at the Lausitzring.