OK, so you’re meant to launch your new supercar coupe before you launch the racing-derived variant. Not this time around for BMW for they did exactly the opposite of what you normally expect. And there is a good reason to do, not necessarily because they want to meet the entry deadline, more so because it makes for good publicity when the production version is finally launched. You see the M8 GTE is a square peg designed to fit into various endurance racing square holes and will make its racing proper debut at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship over the coming weekend. BMW say the M8 GTE is purpose-built for racing, 30 percent to 40 percent is production-based, and the rest is bespoke motorsport mechanicals. That 30-40 percent BMW is talking about probably refers to the engine which is a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 and is good for 500bhp. CFRP, carbonfibre-reinforced plastic is used for both race and production car. Don’t expect the production M8 to look anything like the M8 GTE. The production BMW M8 will not have the wide front and rear fenders or that massive rear wing. The production version is reputed to be offered with a near 600bhp 4.4-litre twinturbo V8. Word on the street is that the M8 will be released around Q4, 2018 and entry-level models will cost around £70k.