The season opener of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship took place under floodlights at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar last night. Joining the bikes on the starting grid, however, was BMW’s new 1 Series M Coupe safety car, which is possibly the very first modified 1 Series M Coupe and features various handling and performance revisions.

Although the basic foundations of the new safety car remain largely unchanged from the upcoming road car, it has received a number of performance upgrades to suit track work. There’s a new lightweight titanium exhaust system, lightweight fibre-reinforced bonnet and polycarbonate rear and side windows for weight reduction purposes. There’s also a new aerodynamics package including an adjustable rear wing and a new front apron and splitter integrated into the lower front bumper bar. There’s also additional ducting in the front to aid engine and brake cooling.

Inside, the car is fitted with a race roll cage, racing bucket seats in the front with harness seat belts and removed rear seats. There’s also a fire extinguisher placed inside for obvious race track precautions. To aid handling and to make sure the car is always on the scene as soon as possible, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe safety car is also fitted with a comprehensive adjustable suspension system and an uprated braking package consisting of six-piston fixed calipers. Nice touch with the traditional ‘M’ stripes over the front end as well.

If this modification program sounds familiar, then look no further than the BMW M3 GTS that received similar track-ready treatment. For all intents and purposes, we’d say this is unofficially a 1 Series M Coupe GTS. Just imagine if BMW decided to introduce this car in larger and more affordable numbers than they did with the very expensive and exclusive M3 GTS! Pretty please with a cherry on top BMW!