BMW has run the M235i Championship for four years. Part of Germany’s VLN Endurance Championship, it’s a one-make season fully supported by its Motorsport divison. Ahead of next year, the manufacturer has resigned contracts with VLN and tyre-supplier Dunlop – ensuring the series’ survival for another two years.

Oh, and it’s upgraded the car. Not by much, admittedly, but every little helps. The M240i Racing Evo (the name of the series has been changed, too…) gets more comfortable, more supportive seats, new end-plates for the rear-wing and optimised software for the 3.0-litre straight-six. It has ABS, traction control and DSC, but presumably they can be switched off. Bet it’s an absolute hoot.

BMW has also got its wallet out, and upped prize money from 75,000 to 100,000 euros for the most successful teams.

More than 170 M235i Racings have been built, and if you’ve ever attended the Nürburgring 24 Hours it’s easy to assume half of them are on the grid. BMW claims they’re in action all over the world, including in their own series in Belgium and China (as well as Germany, obvs). Just let us grab our racing booties…