Article by GSP.RO – Published Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 10:13 / Updated Tuesday, April 21, 2026 10:17
In 2024, VELO* Romania crossed paths with Engage Racing, an independent motorsport team that operates on two simple principles: ambition and passion for performance.
After in the first episode we discovered how the idea of an electric racing car built on the basis of the BMW i4 M50 series model came about, the story continues with an essential question: what does it really mean to be fast?
In episode two we go deeper behind the scenes of a process that transforms a BMW i4 M50, a production electric car, into a true racing car. It's not just about straight-line speed, it's about control, precision and adapting to a completely different environment – the track.
From potential to reality
It all started from a simple reality: there are no dedicated aftermarket components. So the solution was a radical one: almost complete construction from scratch.
In its final form, only the essentials remained from the original car: the front-rear motors, the battery and its management system. The rest has been completely rethought for the circuit.
Precision that makes the difference
One of the first major changes was to replace the standard bushings with ones with ball couplings. An apparently subtle change, but which decisively influences the behavior of the car.
The result? More cornering precision and, perhaps most importantly, more confidence for the pilot.
If the mechanical part was a challenge, the electronic part was a real puzzle. The BMW i4 has numerous safety systems that are great for the street but limiting on the track.
“A lot of them had to be taken out or tricked out, or I had to convince the car that everything was fine, that all the systems were still on, when in fact they were turned off, and manage to get it to work in race conditions,” explains one of the team that made the conversion.
Where speed is actually gained
Many people think that speed means acceleration. The reality in motorsport is different: speed is gained in corners. A well-developed aerodynamic package increases cornering speed and that's where the difference is made on the track. It's not just about going “harder”, it's about going more efficiently where it counts.
But perhaps the most surprising challenge was sound. Without a thermal engine, the pilot loses an essential landmark. The solution the team found was an innovative one: a sound synthesis system that generates real-time feedback based on sensor data. It is not a recorded sound, but one “created” by the machine, using resonators and advanced acoustic principles.
The second episode of the project is not only about technical changes, but about adaptation, creativity and the desire to push the boundaries. It's proof that electric motorsport isn't just about technology, it's also about passion, courage and innovation — the very ingredients that define Engage Racing.
(+18) This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive.
