BMW has been in discussions about entering its DTM car in SUPER GT this year.
In 2019 and 2020 respectively, the DTM and SUPER GT adopted a common set of regulations put in place two years ago.
The aim of the unification of rules was to entice increased manufacturer participation across both series’.
BMW had previously stated that it would consider a SUPER GT entry with its M4 DTM car, though it would require its DTM operation to scale back by the same number of cars.
According to Motorsport.com, the German firm has held talks with its Japanese partner team, Team Studie, about fielding an M4 DTM car for the 2020 season.
However, the Japanese team elected to enter a BMW M6 GT3 into the GT300 class instead, where it had competed until 2017 before moving to the Blancpain GT Asia series for the next two seasons.
Speaking with Motorsport.com, Team Studie owner Yasuaki Suzuki elaborated on the discussions held between both parties.
“We were talking behind the scenes to join the GT500 category for Class One. However, around the summer of last year, BMW notified the team that they would not join GT500 in the 2020 season.
“When I was thinking about what to do from there, I heard a story about the current structure, so we decided to enter SUPER GT [GT300] with the M6 GT3 and Super Taikyu with M4 GT4.”
While BMW could be left with multiple M4’s should DTM decide to abandon the Class One rules, Suzuki believes fielding a DTM car in SUPER GT competition has some difficulties.
“BMW in Japan wanted to do GT500, strangely. Although the regulations have been unified, the interpretation of the regulation is so different in Japan and Germany. I feel it’s difficult. I feel like [BMW] can’t go to GT500 unless there is complete alignment.
“There’s also the part where I can’t go ahead just because DTM marques are trying to enter SUPER GT. I think that we have to move forward in parallel with the fact that [the same] SUPER GT vehicles must also be in the DTM. It’s a difficult situation to get the balance right.”
