This text was not translated, because it is originally in English
Only 20 days after its global debut at the Detroit Auto Show, BMWs new 1 Series M Coupe will serve as the official pace car (alongside the M3) for the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28th-30th. Its a rare chance to see the BMWs newest M model before it goes on sale in May. Even better, the 1 Series M Coupe pace car will carry an on-board television camera for Speed TV, to give viewers a unique eye on the twice-around-the-clock action. With a 335-bhp inline-6, a 6-speed manual and suspension and brakes from the M3 Competition Package, the 1 Series M Coupe needed no modifications for this new duty.

Theres no better way to greet your most enthusiastic fans than from the front of the Rolex 24 field, said Dan Creed, Vice President of Marketing for BMW of North America. BMW M is synonymous with motorsport. With six BMW-powered entries in this years field and on the 35th anniversary of our overall win, its perfect that the new 1 Series M Coupe was chosen as pace car. This will be the first time most fans are able to see our newest M car in action.

This is indeed the 35th anniversary of BMWs overall win at Daytona. In 1976, Peter Gregg, Brian Redman and John Fitzpatrick drove a BMW CSL to victory. BMW has three class wins at the Rolex 24—an M1 driven by Hans Stuck and Alf Gebhardt took GT1 honors in 1981, and the BMW Team PTG M3 scored back-to-back wins in the GT3 class at Daytona in 1997 and 1998. Bill Auberlen and Boris Said were co-drivers in those victories and will team up again this year in the BMW-powered Turner Motorsport M3 Coupe.