Ever since BMW won the Alpine Rally in 1929, racing success has been an integral part of the brand’s philosophy.
Engineering experience gained from the world’s toughest circuits, as well as the most grueling races and competitive motorsport rivalries has helped make the BMWs we drive on the road more performance-oriented, more precise and, above all, even more exciting to drive.
With the introduction of the iconic M badge on the alluring M1 in 1978, this mode of operation is becoming more and more entrenched. No BMW has reinforced this track-to-road philosophy more than the legendary M3. Always a beauty to see, it was packed with the benefits of BMW’s involvement in motorsport from the start, and thus brought the M badge to a wider audience.
Today’s BMW M3 competition sedan and the elegant BMW M4 competition coupe are the direct result of more than 40 years of knowledge.
Learn more about the BMW M3 Competition Sedan here. To learn more about the BMW M4 Competition Coupé, click here.
A successful start for the BMW M3
Developed with considerable input from the in-house BMW Motorsport GmbH competition department, the BMW M3 has always been a car designed for the most passionate drivers, bolstered by an incredible racing pedigree that has only grown richer over the years. years.
Remarkably, the BMW M3 won World, European, German and Italian touring car titles – as well as the Silverstone Tourist Trophy and Spa 24 Hours endurance events – in its first year of racing in 1987.
With the BMW offensive led by Roberto Ravaglia, Johnny Cecotto and Emanuele Pirro, the battles on the track for the next few years were intense – the nimble M3s pitted against the flame-breathing Ford Sierra Cosworths as they battled against Monza and the Nürburgring in Europe, to the Australian auto racing mecca in Bathurst and the streets of Macau.
The BMW M3 also briefly competed in the 1987 World Rally Championship – Bernard Beguin reveling in the amazing grip and exquisite handling that the M3 delivered on sealed asphalt roads to win the Tour de Corse.
To British fans, the BMW M3 is best known as the car that won the British Touring Car Championship at the hands of Frank Sytner in 1988, with Will Hoy leading BMW to secure the Drivers ‘and Manufacturers’ titles in 1991.
Racing experience, designed for the road
BMW M3 road car owners reaped the benefits of 1989 when the Evo model was introduced. It offered 20 extra horsepower, along with a larger front splitter and deeper rear spoiler as well as lighter panels, providing better performance. This was followed by the even more developed M3 Sport Evolution, with the racing version pushing 374 hp – 78 hp more than the BMW M3s originally raced in 1987. Wins continued to come, and the BMW M3 has won a host of additional touring car titles before it morphed into something even more openly and aggressively sporty.
While the original BMW M3 E30 was replaced by the E36 body shape in 1992, BMW developed the M3 GTR – with wider hips and a more obvious rear spoiler. Much like its predecessor, it was an instant success, with Johnny Cecotto winning the ADAC GT Cup in 1993.
The BMW M3 was also successful in the United States. A BMW M3 slice led by Prototype Technology Group won three consecutive GT class titles in the best American sports car series from 1996 to 1998, with Bill Auberlen adding the drivers’ title in 1997.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-26 16:00:00
