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Le Mans / ALMS
LM24: BMW Art Car Revealed
Jeff Koons-designed BMW M3 GT2 unveiled in Paris
BMW's 17th Art Car was unveiled Tuesday in Paris. (BMW AG)
World-renowned artist Jeff Koons took the wraps off his latest creation Tuesday in an historic unveiling in the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Koons, who was tasked with designing the 17th BMW Art Car, revealed the final livery of the BMW M3 GT2 which will make its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next weekend.
The Bavarian automaker has had a long and rich heritage of turning their race cars into Art Cars. In 1975, Frenchman Herve Poulain came up with the idea of having BMW racing cars designed by famous artists. The first example, a BMW 3.0 SCL, was designed by Alexander Calder. Over the years, designs from the likes of Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg have all appeared on BMWs.
PHOTOS: BMW Art Car Unveiling
Five of the BMW Art Cars have competed at Le Mans, including the Andy Warhol-designed BMW M1, which finished sixth overall in 1979. The last Le Mans-era Art Car came with the BMW V12 LMR in 1999, designed by Jenny Holzer, which was seen on-track in select American Le Mans Series races the following year.
“I always thought it would be an honor to work on a BMW Art Car,” Koons said. “I look forward to participating in a tradition started by such great artists as Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella and Warhol.”
The Koons-designed No. 79 BMW will be driven by Andy Priaulx, Dirk Muller and Dirk Werner. The Schnitzer-run squad will also field a second M3, in its traditional livery, for Jorg Muller, Augusto Farfus and Uwe Alzen.
Koons, a world-renowned artist who is known for his work in public sculptures, revealed his final design at the same venue where Lichtenstein’s creation was first unveiled in 1977. In a further not to tradition, the No. 79 number pays tribute to Warhol’s 1979 BMW M1.
The final design is the result of months of creative process, which included ‘traditional’ methods of creation. But Koons also explored other routes to inspire his design, including strapping behind the wheel of various BMWs to experience the M3 GT2 at race speeds.
He’s also traveled to Germany several times to explore the complete design possibilities. From working with computer-designed 3D models of the M3 GT2 to exploring the applications process, Koons took a very serious approach to completing his latest creation.
“These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy. You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.”
BMW Motorsport makes its return to Circuit de la Sarthe for the first time since 1999 when it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall with its V12 LMR. This time, the two Schnitzer Motorsport entries are in the highly competitive GT2 category.
The Bavarian automaker has had a long and rich heritage of turning their race cars into Art Cars. In 1975, Frenchman Herve Poulain came up with the idea of having BMW racing cars designed by famous artists. The first example, a BMW 3.0 SCL, was designed by Alexander Calder. Over the years, designs from the likes of Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg have all appeared on BMWs.
PHOTOS: BMW Art Car Unveiling
Five of the BMW Art Cars have competed at Le Mans, including the Andy Warhol-designed BMW M1, which finished sixth overall in 1979. The last Le Mans-era Art Car came with the BMW V12 LMR in 1999, designed by Jenny Holzer, which was seen on-track in select American Le Mans Series races the following year.
“I always thought it would be an honor to work on a BMW Art Car,” Koons said. “I look forward to participating in a tradition started by such great artists as Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella and Warhol.”
The Koons-designed No. 79 BMW will be driven by Andy Priaulx, Dirk Muller and Dirk Werner. The Schnitzer-run squad will also field a second M3, in its traditional livery, for Jorg Muller, Augusto Farfus and Uwe Alzen.
Koons, a world-renowned artist who is known for his work in public sculptures, revealed his final design at the same venue where Lichtenstein’s creation was first unveiled in 1977. In a further not to tradition, the No. 79 number pays tribute to Warhol’s 1979 BMW M1.
The final design is the result of months of creative process, which included ‘traditional’ methods of creation. But Koons also explored other routes to inspire his design, including strapping behind the wheel of various BMWs to experience the M3 GT2 at race speeds.
He’s also traveled to Germany several times to explore the complete design possibilities. From working with computer-designed 3D models of the M3 GT2 to exploring the applications process, Koons took a very serious approach to completing his latest creation.
“These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy. You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.”
BMW Motorsport makes its return to Circuit de la Sarthe for the first time since 1999 when it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall with its V12 LMR. This time, the two Schnitzer Motorsport entries are in the highly competitive GT2 category.
Monterey
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