Developing the MODE Design™ F87 M2 Competition Clubsport

Why we chose the F87, what circuit development demanded, and how the G87 shapes the next chapter.

The BMW M2 Competition offered a compelling foundation for a MODE Design™ Clubsport project: compact proportions, rear-wheel drive, an S55 twin-turbo six-cylinder engine and a chassis with considerable scope for development.

Our objective was to bring those qualities together in a road-registered car capable of sustained circuit use. That required a coordinated approach to power delivery, cooling, suspension geometry, braking and driver control.

The resulting MODE Design™ Clubsport Edition reflects that approach. Based on a 2019 F87 M2 Competition with DCT, it combines an extensively developed chassis with upgraded engine hardware and a focused cockpit. Its recorded 1:16 lap at Queensland Raceway’s National Circuit provides a reference point for the completed package.

The F87’s Place in BMW M History

BMW Motorsport GmbH was established in 1972. Cars including the 3.0 CSL and, later, the E30 M3 helped establish the connection between BMW’s production vehicles and competition engineering. Their significance extended beyond engine output to weight management, chassis development and the demands of racing. BMW M’s motorsport history

The F87 brought that compact performance-car format into the modern turbocharged era. The original M2 used BMW’s N55 engine; the M2 Competition, introduced in 2018, adopted the S55 twin-turbo six-cylinder architecture shared with the contemporary M3 and M4. In standard form, it produced 302kW and 550Nm, supported by revised cooling, oil supply and chassis reinforcement. BMW’s F87 model history

For a circuit development project, that combination mattered. The Competition provided a compact platform with a powertrain and supporting systems already engineered for demanding performance use.

BMW M Motorsport subsequently developed the F87-based M2 CS Racing as a dedicated customer racing car, with applications including Nürburgring endurance racing and TC America. Our Clubsport remains a separately developed, road-based MODE vehicle, but the factory racing programme demonstrates the broader suitability of the F87 architecture for competition. BMW M2 CS Racing

Why We Chose the M2 Competition

The F87 offered the right balance of size, performance potential and development flexibility.

Its compact footprint is valuable where a circuit demands frequent changes of direction. The S55 provides substantial scope for powertrain development, while the DCT suits an application that requires repeatable shifts and consistent driver inputs.

Equally important was the ability to retain road usability. This project began with a genuine M2 Competition and remains road registered with a clean title. The aim was a focused Clubsport configuration with a practical connection to the road.

The platform also presented clear engineering challenges. A short-wheelbase, high-output rear-wheel-drive car demands careful control of geometry, weight transfer and traction. Adding power increases the importance of those areas.

That made the F87 a useful development platform: capable in standard form, with meaningful gains available through a systematic approach.

Developing the Chassis Around the Tyre

The suspension package is central to this build.

Bilstein B16 coilovers are supported by an extensive Suspension Secrets kinematics package, including adjustable camber, caster, toe and traction components. Solid bushes and upgraded drivetrain mounts further refine how the chassis responds under load.

These changes provide the adjustment required to manage tyre contact, balance and stability across braking, corner entry and acceleration. Ride height is only one part of that process. Alignment, suspension movement and component compliance all influence how consistently the car uses its tyres.

The wheel and tyre specification follows the same reasoning. MODE Design FR-1 Evolution forged wheels measure 18 × 10.5 inches at all four corners, paired with 295/30R18 Nankang CR-S semi-slicks.

A square configuration supports tyre rotation and offers useful flexibility when managing wear and chassis balance. Its effectiveness depends on the geometry and clearance package around it.

There are compromises. More rigid mounting can transmit additional noise and vibration, while circuit-oriented alignment can increase road tyre wear. Those trade-offs reflect the car’s intended use.

Supporting the S55

PURE 800 turbochargers and a MODE Tuned custom calibration provide the basis of the upgraded powertrain. Fuel delivery is supported by a Dorch Engineering fuel pump lift kit, Bosch EU5 / S63TU injectors and bootmod3 flex-fuel monitoring.

The supporting specification includes a MODE Design performance intercooler, charge pipes, turbo inlet pipes and exhaust components. A double-keyed four-pin crank hub, crank bolt capture and rod bearing replacement completed in 2026 form part of the mechanical preparation.

For circuit use, the relationship between these systems matters as much as their individual specifications. Increased output places greater demands on fuel supply, temperature control, traction and maintenance.

Our development priority is usable performance: delivery that works with the chassis and remains manageable across repeated laps. Peak output alone cannot describe that result.

Braking and the Driver Interface

An AP Racing 5000R motorsport brake package, Pagid endurance pads and dedicated front cooling ducts address repeated braking demands.

Consistent braking allows the driver to work progressively on entry speed, brake release and corner balance. Cooling is an integral part of that system, particularly when increased engine performance raises the speed reached between braking zones.

Inside, RECARO Pole Position seats, a Schroth harness and a JQ Werks Madtrace steering wheel provide a more focused driving position. RaceBox Pro and BimmerLink live data support lap timing and vehicle monitoring.

The exterior specification includes a vented aluminium bonnet, carbon Clubsport fenders, a front splitter and a Verus UCW swan-neck rear wing. Aerodynamic components introduce another setup variable: their influence must be considered alongside mechanical balance, speed and circuit layout.

What the Queensland Raceway Lap Represents

The car’s recorded 1:16 lap on Queensland Raceway’s National Circuit is a useful marker of the package’s capability.

It is also a result from a particular car, configuration and set of conditions. Tyres, weather, track condition and driver performance all affect lap time.

For development purposes, the wider questions remain essential: how consistently the car brakes, how effectively it deploys power, how its temperatures behave and how predictably its balance changes over a session.

A lap time gives the project a measurable reference. Repeatability determines how useful that performance is.

F87 and G87: Different Starting Points

The G87 is the next platform in our M2 development direction. It brings the S58 engine, a broader chassis and a longer wheelbase, creating a different set of opportunities and demands.

BMW increased the G87’s wheelbase by 54mm over its predecessor and widened its front track substantially. The automatic transmission also changed from the F87’s seven-speed DCT to an eight-speed M Steptronic. BMW’s G87 launch information

Those changes influence how each platform approaches circuit work. The following assessment describes their likely tendencies; it is not a claim from a controlled comparison between equivalent MODE builds.

Consideration	F87 M2 Competition	G87 M2
Size and response	Compact dimensions suit frequent direction changes and restricted track space.	Longer wheelbase and broader stance offer a useful foundation for composure through faster sections.
Powertrain	The S55 has an established development path and strong aftermarket support.	The S58 offers a newer basis for powertrain development.
Mass	Generally the lighter starting point, depending on transmission and equipment.	Additional mass increases the work required from tyres and brakes.
Handling demands	Rapid responses require disciplined geometry, damping and torque delivery.	Greater dimensions and inertia must be managed through transitions and braking.
Automatic transmission	Seven-speed DCT is a defining part of this build’s driving character.	Eight-speed M Steptronic changes the transmission behaviour and calibration approach.
Development priority	Extract consistency while retaining the platform’s agility.	Use the broader chassis and powertrain potential while controlling mass, heat and consumable demands.

Neither platform’s dimensions determine the result independently. Tyres, alignment, damping, differential behaviour, aerodynamics and driver confidence can outweigh a simple generational comparison.

Which Tracks Suit Each Platform?

Tight, Technical Circuits

Layouts with closely spaced corners, short straights and repeated transitions play to the F87’s compact dimensions.

At these circuits, front-end response, rotation and traction can be more valuable than additional peak power. Our engineering expectation is that the F87 offers an efficient foundation for this type of work, provided its rear-axle behaviour is well controlled.

Its short wheelbase also demands respect. Abrupt inputs, unsuitable damping or aggressive torque delivery can make the car harder to manage on corner exit.

Fast, Flowing Circuits

Longer corners and sustained high-speed sections place greater emphasis on stability, aerodynamic balance and confidence.

The G87’s longer wheelbase and broader front track make it an attractive platform for this environment. Its potential must be developed alongside appropriate braking, tyre support and temperature control.

The F87 remains capable on fast circuits, but setup becomes particularly important when combining rapid chassis responses with increased power.

Heavy-Braking Circuits

Repeated acceleration into low-speed corners tests both platforms.

The F87’s generally lower starting mass can reduce the energy that must be managed in each braking event. The G87’s additional mass places greater emphasis on brake capacity, cooling and tyre management.

In either case, a complete braking system and a stable platform under deceleration are fundamental.

Longer Sessions and Endurance-Oriented Running

For extended running, preparation becomes more important than generation.

Fuel consumption, tyre degradation, brake wear, operating temperatures and serviceability all influence performance over time. Higher output can improve a single lap while increasing the demands of a longer session.

The most effective package is the one that meets its performance target consistently within a manageable operating window.

What Comes Next with the G87

The G87 gives us a new foundation on which to apply the lessons from the F87 programme.

The development priorities remain clear: establish the chassis balance, understand the tyre requirements, validate braking and thermal behaviour, and integrate power delivery around those findings.

The F87 specification provides experience to draw from, rather than a component list to transfer directly. The G87’s different dimensions, powertrain, transmission and electronic systems require their own assessment.

Its potential will be measured through the same standards: useful adjustment, consistent operation, clear driver feedback and performance supported by the complete vehicle.

The F87 Clubsport has established that approach for MODE Design™. The G87 is the opportunity to develop it further.