first rivals.
BMW M Motorsport’s history dates all the way back to 1972. Since then, all tiers of competition have had BMW vehicles in touring and GT racing.
In This Article...
Performance History of BMW Race Cars: Built for Speed
Attending any of the numerous sports car races, track days, autocross competitions, or historic races staged annually around the United States will reveal one thing: BMW vehicles are always present. BMW, which was established in 1916, has one of the most colorful pasts in all of motorsports. They first started making aviation engines in 1923 and then made their first motorcycles, which also have a long history of competitiveness. The first vehicle bearing the BMW badge was built in 1928 and was based on an Austin 7, but it wasn’t until the 328’s 1936 debut that BMW truly came into their own.
Many of the high-performance automobiles coming out of Europe in 1930 concentrated on building massive engines for Grand Prix competition, but BMW chose a different path. Built to compete in the 2-litre class, the M328 1971cc inline-six that powered the 328 was successful right out of the gate. It claimed victories in its class at the Mille Miglia, the RAC Tourist Trophy, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A 328 was even driven to victory in the 1948 Australian Grand Prix against a broad array of machines, several of which had much larger displacement engines. The success continued throughout the 1940s with an overall triumph in the Mille Miglia. BMW race vehicles were beginning to succeed in competitions all around the world, and their reputation was expanding.
The squad that has won races becomes BMW Motorsport GmbH.
The 35-person team of experts was led by Jochen Neerpasch, a former works driver for Porsche and Head of Racing at Ford in Cologne before they relocated to Munich. He left behind a group of racers, including Chris Amon, Toine Hezemans, Hans-Joachim Stuck, and Dieter Quester, who would have a lasting impact on BMW Motorsport over many years.
The new business quickly had access to its own space in Munich’s Preussenstrasse, just a short distance from the main facility. Here is where the sports cars for 1973 were developed: A 950 kg lightweight 2002 rally car with a two liter four valve engine. Jochen Neerpasch also mentioned a brand-new touring car coupe when he remarked, “We don’t also envisage ourselves winning the European championship as we consider 1973 as a development year.” He was proven to be mistaken by the BMW 3.0 CSL’s excellent race accomplishments. Toine Hezemans won the European Touring Car Championship in the 3.0 CSL’s first year of production, making it the storied racer of its day.
The debut of M Sport BMW?
The cleverly called BMW M1 supercar was the first BMW road vehicle to be given the now-iconic BMW M emblem. The 1978 M1 is the only mid-engined M vehicle ever produced. It cost about PS2,000 more than a Ferrari BB12 from the same era and had supercar performance, appearance, and price. The 273bhp M1 had a top speed of 161 mph and could reach 62 mph in under 5.6 seconds.
While hardly supercar-quick now, the M1 had more than enough power to make some of the elite supercar drivers look bad in the late 1970s.
By the way, Lamborghini was supposed to produce the BMW M1, but they backed out of the deal due to other financial commitments. Consequently, BMW M created the M1, their first ever M vehicle. What follows is history.
Does BMW participate in auto racing?
The section of BMW tasked with overseeing motorsport-related endeavors is known as BMW Motorsport. This division oversees works-run competition programs in touring car racing, sports car racing, motorcycle racing, and Formula E.
Has BMW ever had a Formula One team?
Have you ever pondered why some manufacturers, like BMW, choose not to participate in Formula One despite the sport’s rising popularity? Knowing a team’s history can often help you appreciate them more, in my experience as an F1 and BMW enthusiast. Does BMW compete in Formula One?
BMW does not participate in Formula One and does not have any immediate plans to do so. Due to a poor performance, the global financial crisis, and their desire to raise the technological requirements for their road vehicles, they discontinued their participation in F1 in 2009.
BMW has historically been one of the strongest racing competitors, despite not participating in Formula 1. Let’s look at where they started, what they think about Formula One, and why they still don’t want to compete.
Check out the great products from the official F1 store here if you’re looking for some F1 memorabilia.
Why doesn’t BMW compete in Formula 1?
This article discusses BMW’s participation in Formula One and the BMW Sauber racing team. See Sauber Motorsport for the independent racing team.
Since the World Drivers’ Championship was established in 1950, BMW has been involved in Formula One in a variety of capacities. Before developing the BMW M12/13 inline-four turbocharged engine in the 1980s, the business competed in sporadic races in the 1950s and 1960s (typically under Formula Two rules). The team’s chassis were powered by BMW engines from 1982 to 1987 as a consequence of an agreement between BMW and Brabham. Nelson Piquet won the 1983 title while operating a Brabham BT52-BMW during this time. ATS, Arrows, Benetton, and Ligier teams were also given the M12/13 by BMW during this time, with varying degrees of success. Brabham briefly left the sport in 1988, and BMW stopped officially supporting the engines, which were still being used by the Arrows team under the Megatron moniker. The 1989 revision of the Formula One Technical Regulations outlawed turbocharged engines, making the M12/13 obsolete.
In the late 1990s, BMW made the decision to return to Formula One and entered into an exclusive agreement with the Williams team, which was in need of a new long-term engine supplier following the departure of Renault in 1997. A new V10 engine was developed as a result of the initiative and debuted in competition in the Williams FW22 in 2000. The collaboration advanced from the midfield to contending for race victories the next year, but the desired title remained elusive due to Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s domination in the first half of the 2000s. BMW decided to sever ways with Williams in 2005 as their relationship had deteriorated, and instead decided to purchase the rival Sauber team outright.
The BMW Sauber project, which ran from 2006 to 2009, significantly raised the Swiss former privateer team’s competitiveness. A strong third place performance in the Constructors’ Championship in 2007 followed two podium places in the inaugural season (which became second when McLaren was disqualified). Robert Kubica won the team’s lone race in 2008, the Canadian Grand Prix, and briefly held the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, but the team decided to concentrate on 2009 car development and fell back in the standings at the end of the season. Due to the F1.09 chassis’ lack of competitiveness, the 2009 season was a significant letdown. BMW decided to leave the sport, returning the team to its founder, Peter Sauber, in addition to the global financial downturn and the company’s displeasure with the constraints of the current technical standards in developing technology relevant to road cars.
Which BMW is the greatest for racing?
Many associate the “Batmobile” with either the low, angular design of the more modern superhero film or the blacked-out 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura. However, it means something quite different to BMW racing enthusiasts. With the exception of the M1, the 3.0-liter CSL “Batmobile” proved to be an unstoppable force in touring car racing during the 1970s. It is possible that it is one of the best-looking BMW racing vehicles.
The 3.0 CSL Batmobile, which was based on the road-going E9, had a spoiler beneath its pointed “shark” nose, strakes on the bonnet, and a sweeping rear wing. This body modification reportedly added a significant 90 kg of downforce at 124 mph. It should come as no surprise, given how it looks, that the aerodynamic effects sparked similarities to the similarly named DC comics vehicle.
1,039 homologation vehicles, each powered by a straight-six generating 209PS (206bhp) and 286Nm, were created between 1973 and 1975 to certify the BMW race cars (211lb ft).
Thinner gauge steel in the monocoque and an aluminum bonnet and boot helped reduce weight (the latter reverted to steel upon addition of the rear wing). The 1,270kg automobile was stripped of luxuries like carpet, power steering, electric windows, and sound-deadening materials, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds and reach a high speed of 136 miles per hour.
The homologation models themselves were fiercely disputed, but the BMW competition vehicles, which produced more than 300PS, excelled in touring races, especially those held by the European Touring Car Championship and the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft. The Batmobile won the special tourism class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 and 1974, and from 1973 to 1979, with the exception of 1974, it consistently won the European Touring Car Championships.
The 3.0 CSL was used in the 1975 IMSA GT Championship on the other side of the pond, where Sam Posey, Brian Redman, and Ronnie Peterson won races throughout the season. The Group 5 3.5 CSL, meantime, claimed three victories in the 1976 World Championship for Makes.
Why does BMW not compete in the MotoGP?
While it is evident that motorsport is ingrained in BMW’s DNA, its road-going motorcycles have been less in line with the philosophy of power, handling, and enjoyment, favoring durability and practicality instead. This is in contrast to its four-wheel vehicles, which are primarily sports saloons.
In fact, competing in MotoGP doesn’t always result in more GS sales, much like competing in F1, Le Mans, or Formula E doesn’t always result in greater sales of 3-Series, 8-Series, and i8 automobiles.
Being a middling MotoGP would raise concerns from the board level to the customer level, and BMW’s great brand power needs to be preserved.
In contrast to a dominant MotoGP effort that would make you want to buy a GS exclusively, would a mediocre MotoGP effort cause you to second-guess purchasing a BMW GS?
What color is associated with BMW?
Blue represents BMW, red represents motorsport, and violet represents the special union of the two, according to BMW M. This still remains true today if dark blue is used in place of purple. The BMW M colors are derived in a clever yet straightforward way.
What distinguishes a BMW as a M sport?
The VIN number is arguably the simplest way to recognize a BMW M Series. Given that all you have to do is look at the first three letters, this method is the quickest and most effective. The WBS prefix is used in the VIN numbers of all BMW M vehicles. The VIN numbers of all other BMW automobiles start with WBA.
What is the name of BMW blue?
The M-specific paint finish, BMW Individual Macao Blue metallic, has been a distinctive aspect of M automobiles’ design for more than three decades. The color made a significant comeback in 2016 with the BMW M3 30 Years edition after making its debut on the BMW M3 E30 in 1986.
What distinguishes the M Sport from the BMW Sport?
The wheels, suspension, and brakes on M Sport variants are larger than those on regular BMW models. Wider tires provide better traction, the suspension lessens how much the automobile leans into turns, and the brakes let the vehicle stop more quickly. When you add everything up, M Sport vehicles are more enjoyable to drive. And that says a lot considering that even non-M Sport models are more enjoyable to drive than the majority of competitors.
The trade-off is that M Sport models typically aren’t as comfortable because you can feel road imperfections more readily due to their lower suspension and low-profile tyres. However, keep in mind that if you’re considering a used M Sport model, it can come with optional adaptive or air suspension that makes the ride feel almost luxuriously smooth.
Because M Sport vehicles are offered with the exact same engines as any other BMW, they do not accelerate any more swiftly than other models. Not that a single BMW is even close to being slow.