At the 2008 Chicago Auto Show in February, BMW announced that it will be returning to the American Le Mans Series in early 2009 with a racing version of the new BMW M3. Based on the new 2008 BMW M3, power comes from a BMW P65 V8 485-hp engine.

BMW hopes that the M3 racing version will be an immediate front-runner when it makes its return to the American Le Mans Series next year – which will be made possible by a parternship between BMW of North America and Rahal Letterman Racing.

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