Laguna Seca Blue. Dakar Yellow. Isle of Man Inexperienced. Regardless of the place you look in BMW M’s historical past, race-inspired shade names are likely to pop up. It is sensible that these high-performing vehicles (and SUVs) would pay homage to the place they had been engineered to excel. Or, no less than, it makes for some fairly intelligent advertising and marketing. Listed here are our high ten BMW M colours named after racetracks.

Imola Purple

A storied shade for a storied observe. This orangey-red shade has appeared on every part from the E36 to the F80 (as an Particular person order). It’s named after the city in Italy the place you’ll discover, formally, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Most individuals simply name it Imola Circuit. Importantly, this circuit held the 1980 BMW M1 Procar Championship.

Daytona Violet

Maybe probably the most well-known racetracks to obtain an M paint shade, Daytona Violet borrows from Daytona Worldwide Speedway. This shade is infamous for changing the fascinating Techno Violet on the E36. Right now, it’s relegated to BMW Particular person orders, which is unhappy. All through the Nineties, you might discover this shade on every part from 318ti hatchbacks to the vaunted 850CSi.

Yas Marina Blue

The F80 M3 and F82 M4 debuted in two very totally different shades. The M4 debuted in Austin Yellow – most likely named for Circuit of the Americas. However the F80 M3 bought a a lot sweeter shade of blue – Yas Marina Blue. It’s a surprisingly stunning shade in particular person, providing refined pearlescence that’s by no means precisely captured in pictures. This – maybe underrated – shade comes from the Yas Marina Circuit, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix venue.  

Laguna Seca Blue

You actually can’t have considered one of these lists with out mentioning Laguna Seca Blue. The enduring LSB debuted on the equally iconic E46 M3. Later, in extraordinarily restricted numbers, it made its solution to the Z3 M Coupe and Roadster, too. Laguna Seca Blue borrows its identify from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, maybe probably the most well-known street race observe in america. FYI: it’s additionally now formally an accessible shade on the G80 M3, too.

Hockenheim Silver

To this point, Hockenheim Silver was solely formally accessible on the M2 Competitors. It was a preferred alternative that includes gold, crimson, and orange metallic flakes. The observe it’s named after is necessary to BMW, too. Hockenheimring, nestled within the Rhine Valley in Germany, was the scene of the sixth race within the 1980 BMW M1 Procar Sequence.

Interlagos Blue

Like LSB, Interlagos Blue debuted on the E46 M3. Nevertheless it was much more unique – solely vehicles geared up with the Competitors Bundle (ZCP) may order Interlagos. “Comp” Bundle vehicles bought bits lifted from the extra aggressive E46 M3 CSL, like bigger cross-drilled rotors and an M Monitor Mode. This shade returned for the 50 Jahre Version of the G80 M3. Interlagos Circuit is a nickname for Autódromo José Carlos Tempo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The identical observe can be probably liable for the naming of Sao Paulo Yellow, one other M shade.

Donington Gray

Donington Park Circuit is situated in Leicestershire, England, and is known as for the fort of the identical identify. This big and historic park hosts fashionable motorsport occasions just like the Donington Historic Pageant and Superbike World Championship whereas nonetheless tracing its roots again to pre-war racing. Notably, it was additionally the primary everlasting park circuit in England. This – frankly underrated – shade has appeared on iconic vehicles just like the X5 M, M5, M8, and extra. It was even featured on the i8. Which – possibly technically – doesn’t make it an M shade in any respect!

Lime Rock Gray

Lime Rock Park is an especially well-known observe in northwest Connecticut. It encompasses a deceptively easy design and tongue-in-cheek flip names like “the Lefthander” (the one left-hand activate the observe). Lime Rock Park is prominently featured within the historical past of BMW M. It spawned the E92 M3 Lime Rock Park Version, then later the unrelated Lime Rock Gray, which debuted on the F80 M3 CS and F82 M4 CS. It was additionally considered one of simply 5 colours accessible on the 50 Jahre G80 M3.

Jerez Black

This Carbon Black lookalike hails from Circuito de Jerez in Spain. It debuted on the E90 M3 and prominently options blue metallic flake in a deep black paint. The observe has hosted Grand Prix and Formulation 1 races all through historical past, even that includes the South African Grand Prix virtually two dozen occasions.

Kyalami Orange

Even die-hard M fanatics won’t know the fascinating historical past behind this shade. It’s named for Kyalami Racing Circuit in South Africa and, in reality, debuted on a really particular BMW Z3 M. The aforementioned roadster was a wild venture that paired a six-speed guide to the M73 V12 below the hood. Right now, it’s an inside upholstery possibility. However what a cool piece of historical past and heritage!

Which BMW M colours named after racetracks high your record?