BMW M Award with world premiere in MotoGP™: The BMW M2 with xDrive is the 2026 winner’s car.

Balaton Park Circuit. Since 2003, the prestigious BMW M Award for the fastest qualifier has been an integral part of MotoGP™ - and the presentation of the winner's car is one of the highlights of every season. This year, MotoGP™ even provided the stage for a world premiere: the prize car for the 2026 BMW M Award is the all-new BMW M2 with xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 10.4-10.3 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 235-233 g/km according to WLTP, CO₂ class: G)*, which was unveiled to the global public for the very first time during the Grand Prix of Hungary.

One special feature of the vehicle: the BMW M2 with xDrive is the first member of the BMW M2 family to feature all-wheel drive. The unveiling at Balaton Park Circuit was carried out by Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer at MotoGP™, and Zsuzsanna Pócs, Head of Marketing BMW Group Hungary. Following the presentation, Becky Evans (@queenb) and MotoGP™ rider Jorge Martín had the opportunity to experience BMW M's latest highlight during the "BMW M Racing Balance" challenge on the racetrack.

Equipped with innovative BMW M technologies, the BMW M2 with xDrive delivers sheer driving pleasure in all conditions throughout the year. The advanced all-wheel-drive system ensures reliable traction on any surface and in any weather, allowing drivers to fully exploit the car's performance at all times. Under the hood, power comes from the inline six-cylinder engine developed for the BMW M2 with xDrive, featuring BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds - 0.3 seconds quicker than the comparable rear-wheel-drive model. Externally, the BMW M Award winner's car stands out with its BMW Individual Borusan Turkish Blue paint finish. The BMW M2 with xDrive is the first BMW M2 derivative to be available in this exclusive color.

After the unveiling, the action moved onto the track at Balaton Park Circuit. During the "BMW M Racing Balance" challenge, Evans and Martín were able to directly test the perfectly balanced handling and all-wheel-drive performance of the BMW M2 with xDrive. This challenge requires both balance and sensitivity: while the driver pushes to the limit in pursuit of the fastest possible lap time, the passenger holds a bowl filled with balls - and must try to prevent any of them from falling out.

With the BMW M2 with xDrive, BMW M GmbH continues its tradition of honoring the achievements of MotoGP™ riders throughout the season with a special prize in the form of an exclusive BMW M high-performance automobile. Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been a cornerstone of BMW M's activities as the "Official Car of MotoGP™" and is traditionally presented at the season finale. In every MotoGP™ qualifying session, points are awarded for finishing positions, following the same system used in the races. The rider with the highest number of points after the final qualifying session of the season wins the award. Record holder Marc Márquez has claimed the honor eight times, most recently last year. Francesco Bagnaia has won the BMW M Award three times so far. The list of winners also includes Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Fabio Quartararo, Sete Gibernau, and Nicky Hayden.

For more information on BMW M GmbH and the involvement as the 'Official Car of MotoGP™' since 1999, see: https://www.bmw-m.com