Similar stuff has been happening to M3's apparently.

BM are refusing warranty claims on M3 that blow their engines on track, according to a friend who is looking to get rid of his caterham for one of these. Track use apparently invalidates the warranty.

This is a strange one as the BMW warranty says that the car may not be used in timed or competitive events, track days are often not!

I know a guy who is having this problem with his new M3 which has just had a new gearbox!! - ouch!!!

BMW are currently replacing any blown engines for E46 M3, due to a defective part being fitted on cars produced around oct 2001.

They have been replacing engines that went on the track as well.

see this link

http://members.roadfly.org/jason/m3engines.htm

There are guys whos engines have gone mid track and they have got new ones. Engines outside the production period 10/01-12/01 seem to be fine.

Hearsay locally has it that if you take your BMW onto the track your motorplan is toast - i.e. irrespective of why it's on the track.