Following a successful maiden year with the Shannons SpeedSeries, internationally renowned manufacturer BMW will remain as the Official Car Partner for 2026.
In celebration of the BMW M3 high performance sports car celebrating 40 years in 2026, the German-based luxury performance brand will provide two BMW M3s to serve as the Safety Car and Course Car at all six rounds of the Shannons SpeedSeries, starting off with this month’s LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Phillip Island.
Boasting a striking new livery for the upcoming season, the two new-look BMW M3s were revealed at SRO Motorsports Australia’s Media Day at the famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, which officially kicked off the seasons for GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS and Monochrome GT4 Australia.
The partnership extension further strengthens the relationship between BMW and SRO Motorsports Australia, which sees the manufacturer featured prominently at Shannons SpeedSeries events, both on the track and around the paddock.
On track, there is a strong representation for the brand in Monochrome GT4 Australia, with a number of competitors behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT4, including two-time Am Cup champion Jacob Lawrence, father-son team Nathan and Jay Murray and 2025 Silver-Am race winners Steve Jakic and Ryder Quinn – the latter of whom is currently part of the BMW M Racing Academy Class of 2026.
The six-round 2026 Shannons SpeedSeries season begins at Phillip Island later this month and is followed by visits to The Bend, Queensland Raceway, Sydney Motorsport Park, Sandown and the recently included Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin – all of which will be broadcast live and exclusively on FOX SPORTS and Kayo SPORTS.
The 2026 Shannons SpeedSeries will kick off at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Phillip Island on 27-29 March.
QUOTES
Brendan Michel
BMW Group Australia Head of Product and Market Planning
“We are delighted to again partner with the Shannons SpeedSeries with our supply of BMW M support vehicles while also seeing a strong field of BMW GT4 competition entries in 2026,” Michel said.
“The presence of the BMW M3 as the championship’s support and safety vehicles is especially significant this year with our renowned high performance car celebrating its 40th birthday.
“This milestone has resonance on a local level especially thanks to the success of the M3 as a segment-leading road car and championship-winning race car.
“We look forward to seeing the latest, sixth-generation BMW M3 appear during races for another season of exceptional racing in the Shannons SpeedSeries.”
Ben McMellan
SRO Motorsports Australia CEO
“We are pleased to have BMW remain as the Official Car Partner of the Shannons SpeedSeries in 2026, especially as we continue to grow the platform having taken it on in 2025,” McMellan said.
“BMW is a prominent manufacturer around the world, so to have its support for a second consecutive year and provide two top-range vehicles that will play a key role is fantastic for our series.
“I look forward to working closely with BMW again in 2026.”