Article by GSP – Published on Wednesday, 04 March 2026, 17:48 / Updated on Wednesday, 04 March 2026 17:51
In 2024, VELO Romania crossed paths with Engage Racing, an independent motorsport team that operates according to two simple principles: ambition and passion for performance.
The first episode of the series looks at the beginning: how the idea for an electric racing car based on the production model BMW i4 M50 came about, what technical challenges arose along the way and, above all, why the team decided to see the project through.
It's the start of a series where VELO explores what it really means to build a competition car and the dedication behind such a project.
The story of Engage Racing did not start from a rigid plan or an already established project. Rather, he left from the desire to try something different in the area of electric motorsport and to test the technical limits of a production car.
What exactly was wanted? Transforming an electric street model into a track-ready machine.
For VELO, exactly this kind of initiatives are worth following and supporting. They are projects built out of curiosity, passion and the desire to see how far the technical limits can be pushed.
From production model to competition car
The project started from a BMW i4 M50 in standard configuration. The objective was clear: to transform it into a car capable of performing on the circuit.
The main challenge? There were no dedicated kits or motorsport-ready aftermarket components for this model. Basically, the team had to build almost everything from scratch.
That meant in-house development, constant testing and technical solutions thought out specifically for this project.
What the transformation process entailed
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elimination of standard systems that did not meet competition requirements
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development and integration of custom hardware components
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complete rewrite and optimization of the car software
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adapting the platform for use in circuit conditions
The result is a fully modified BMW i4 for racing, made without external technical support and without pre-existing solutions on the market.
In the automotive, driving and engineering communities, it's not just about horsepower, it's about mindset. About technical curiosity. About the simple thought behind many projects: “let's see if we can do this too”.
