Photo: BMW
After becoming the first car maker in the world to put laser headlights into production, BMW announces yet another premiere, fitting the Z4 GT3 cars that will enter the 24hr Nurburgring race with the same technology. Looking over the type of race these cars will partake into, it actually makes sense to see the technology introduced on them for the first time as night time visibility is paramount here.
The four BMW Z4 GT3 cars run by BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert and BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS were fitted with such headlamps yesterday during the qualifying runs preceding the June race.
“It is no coincidence that the first time we use the new laser light technology in a race will be on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
“As a demanding test laboratory, this circuit has always played a key role in the development of BMW cars and our racing cars. For this reason, I am delighted we can now achieve another milestone there with the first use of laser light at a racing event. Highly-efficient laser headlamps are an important safety factor, particularly at the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife,” he added.
Compared to the xenon lights the Z4 cars used up until now, the laser units provide more than 40 percent extra brightness while also saving weight and energy that is of extreme importance on races like this where every milligram counts and every fuel-saving device can make the difference between winning and losing.
“It is no coincidence that the first time we use the new laser light technology in a race will be on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
“As a demanding test laboratory, this circuit has always played a key role in the development of BMW cars and our racing cars. For this reason, I am delighted we can now achieve another milestone there with the first use of laser light at a racing event. Highly-efficient laser headlamps are an important safety factor, particularly at the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife,” he added.
Compared to the xenon lights the Z4 cars used up until now, the laser units provide more than 40 percent extra brightness while also saving weight and energy that is of extreme importance on races like this where every milligram counts and every fuel-saving device can make the difference between winning and losing.
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