BMW Race Cars: In-Depth Model Guides

We take a look a detailed look at all the BMW race cars.

Having bid farewell to Formula One, BMW will reportedly strengthen its involvement in GT and touring car racing for 2010 and beyond. In light of the news, we profile one of their more famous production cars that became a race car – the BMW M1 Procar. The BMW M1 Procar...
Every now and then, carmakers experience a lucid moment and embark on a trip to step out of their comfort zone and create a vehicle stretching the company’s identity. These unique moments in time have a tendency to produce mixed results, but they are also fondly remembered in the hearts...
BMW CSL In the world of production sedans – touring cars, as they are known in Europe – few if any cars have ever been designed with racing in mind. Like a street fighter, they are born into this world with a certain set of abilities and skills that may not...
This 1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia ‘Bügelfalte’ will be offered for sale at RM Auctions’ Sporting Classics of Monaco sale, to be held May 1, 2010 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Its pre-sale estimate is unavailable. BMW was actively involved in sports racing in the pre-war years, enjoying considerable...
If you ask a hardcore BMW enthusiast about their favorite Batmobile, chances are you’re not going to get any answer even remotely related to Gotham’s caped crusader and his set of wheels. On the contrary, it’ll be the BMW 3.0 CSL. This performance coupé from the 1970s was a touring car...
  After reading the great Racecar profile of the BMW M3 (VR, August 2016), I had to share my experience with a BMW built for a special category of American competition. This unique BMW competition car has an estimated 1,500 miles since new according to logbook activity and race entry...
We’ve seen a camouflaged test mule for the 2023 GT4 season from BMW doing runs on the famous Nürburgring-Nordschleife in Germany during a test race already, but now we finally are able to admire the brand new 2023 BMW M4 GT4 race car in M Motorsport design for the very...
2016 BMW M6 GT3 BMW has set a course for the future in GT racing with the presentation of the newly developed BMW M6 GT3 at the 66th IAA Cars 2015 in Frankfurt am Main (DE). The racing version of the BMW M6 Coupe will be sent into action by...
2014 BMW M4 DTM The submission of the necessary papers for the aerodynamic homologation of the 2014-spec DTM cars to the Deutsche Motor Sport Bund (DMSB) also marks the end of a busy, and yet exciting, period for BMW Motorsport. Development work on the BMW M4 DTM, which will compete...
2013 BMW Z4 GTE After four successful years with the BMW M3 GT, BMW is setting course for the future in the American Le Mans Series, and is lining up with a new challenger: the BMW Z4 GTE. In July 2012, BMW Motorsport engineers in Munich began work on developing...
2013 BMW M3 DTM When the concept phase for the BMW M3 DTM began in 2010, the BMW Motorsport engineers were faced with an exciting, but unusual challenge. Not only did they have to start developing the car for BMW’s DTM comeback in order to be ready to face a...
2012 BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition BMW Motorsport returned to the DTM in 2012 after almost 20 years away, and the results in its comeback year exceeded all expectations. Canadian driver Bruno Spengler won the drivers’ title, BMW Team Schnitzer finished in top spot in the team standings, and BMW...
2012 BMW M3 DTM When the concept phase for the BMW M3 DTM began in 2010, the BMW Motorsport engineers were faced with an exciting, but unusual challenge. Not only did they have to start developing the car for BMW’s DTM comeback in order to be ready to face a...
2010 BMW Z4 GT3 Munich, 22nd March 2010. The BMW Z4 GT3, which was officially launched and completed its first test drives at the start of March, is already enjoying great popularity among BMW Motorsport customers. The first cars have been delivered to private BMW teams, who will prepare them...
2009 BMW M3 GT4 Designed to compete in the FIA GT’s GT4 class, this M3 is slightly upgraded to survive the rigors of on track racing. BMW plans to sell the car to potential customers for different racing championships all over the world. The GT4’s body is prepared at BMW’s...
2009 BMW M3 GT2 BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) beginning in 2009. The car is based...
2008 BMW M3 Race Version Chicago, IL/Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 6, 2008… BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans...
2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe Motorsport Version Munich/Geneva, 27th February 2006 – On the occasion of the Automobilsalon, Prof Dr Burkhard Göschel, BMW Group Board Member Purchasing and Development, introduced a new racing car for customer motor racing. The Motorsport Version of the BMW Z4 M Coupe, which has already...
2006 BMW 320si WTCC Frankfurt (GER), 12th September 2005. BMW defines the direction for the future – this time in touring cars. From 12th September, the Munich automobile manufacturer presents the motorsport version of the new BMW 3 Series at the 61st International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. From 2006,...
2001 BMW M3 GTR Beneath the beefy silhouette of the M3 GTR beats a powerful heart: a four-litre V8 engine delivering more than 400 bhp. This short-stroke, high-speed unit epitomizes the tradition of M power and is compact enough to fit into the M3. This engine is very different from...
2001 BMW M3 GTR Beneath the beefy silhouette of the M3 GTR beats a powerful heart: a four-litre V8 engine delivering more than 400 bhp. This short-stroke, high-speed unit epitomizes the tradition of M power and is compact enough to fit into the M3. This engine is very different from...
1999 BMW LMR Press release, 11/13/2000 – The chequered flag comes down on one of the most successful sports cars ever for the last time Munich. The end of its second season in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) marks the retirement of one of the most successful open-topped sports...
1990 BMW M3 Group A One of the most successful Group A touring cars was the BMW M3 which had great success in DTM, the World Touring Car Championship, European Touring Car, British Touring Car, Italia Superturismo, and Australian Touring Car Championships. After deciding to enter Touring Car and DTM...
1990 BMW M3 Group A One of the most successful Group A touring cars was the BMW M3 which had great success in DTM, the World Touring Car Championship, European Touring Car, British Touring Car, Italia Superturismo, and Australian Touring Car Championships. After deciding to enter Touring Car and DTM...
When taking a first look at the subject car for a Profile feature the first thing that comes to mind is where is the story behind this car? First, I’ll start with the name of the car—obvious, yes? Not so, what truly is the name of this car? Some say...
1986 BMW GTP In 1986 BMW of North America entered the IMSA’s GTP category with this prototype. Based off a March chassis, BMW fitted a version of their 1983 Formula One engine that produced over 800 bhp from only 2-liters. Due to the extreme turbocharging, the GTP was capable of...
1980 BMW M1 Procar After much success in racing during the 70’s, BMW needed a car to replace the aging 3.0 CSL. BMW decided to scrap their previous front-engine, rear-wheel drive platforms and instead use the more sophisticated mid-engine layout. The M1 was a costly project that was set to...
1978 BMW 320 Turbo Group 5 When the BMW 320 made its race track debut in 1977, it did so in the same striped livery of BMW Motorsport GmbH (founded in 1972) that also distinguished the 3.0 CSL Coupés which had caused such a sensation on international racing circuits in...
1976 BMW 3.0 CSL Group 5 Past 1975, the FIA introduced the fourth generation Group 5 rules which allowed for much more development than Group 4 or IMSA cars. Many of the defunct 3.0 and 3.2 liter cars from the ETCC were converted and raced up until 1979. Some of...
1975 BMW 3.5 CSL IMSA Among all the BMWs using the Coupe Sport Leicht (CSL) name, none is as outrageous as the 1975 IMSA contender featured here. With superwide fender flares and a dazzling paint scheme, it can be ranked among the most visually exciting racecars ever made. It is...
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Group 2 For the 1973 season, BMW to built a special, lighter version of the E9 known as the 3.0 CSL Coupé, with panelled aluminium bodywork. The use of injection, and a small increase in capacity, took basic engine-power to 206bhp. The highly prepared Group 2...
1965 BMW 1800 TI/SA The 1800TISA was produced in 1965 specifically for works team in the mid-1960s. Only 200 such cars were built featuring twin carburetors, a higher compression ratio and a five speed gearbox. The 130bhp TI/SA won many races including a second place finish the 24 Hours of...
1960 BMW 700 RS The economic boom at the end of the fifties involved rising demands of prospective BMW customers. Spartan, small cars were on the way out and customers called for real cars. BMW reacted to this trend, launching the 600 model in 1957, an extended Isetta with a...
1941 BMW 328 Berlin-Rome Roadster Plans for the long-distance rally from Berlin to Rome were already being forged at the political level as early as 1939. In 1940, three BMW 328 cars were taken to Milan so that they could be fitted with aerodynamic roadster bodies by coachbuilder Carozzeria Touring....
1940 BMW 328 MM “Berlin-Rome” Touring Roadster From its inception in 1916 to 1927, the Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) built a growing business centered around the design and manufacture of water-cooled aircraft engines and motorcycles. However, in 1928, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board Camillo Castiglione, struck upon the bold...
1940 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster The original plans envisaged three 2 Series BMW 328 Roasters being built with streamlined bodies specifically to compete in the Mille Miglia 1940. However, by the start of the Mille Miglia, only two cars were ready. Capacity constraints meant that all the assembly work...
1940 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Kamm Coupé IN 2010 BMW completed an exacting replica of their 328 Kamm Coupé which raced the 1940 Mille Miglia. This was one of five BMWs that paritipated in the race which was eventually won by the 328 Touring Coupé to the upset of the...
1939 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Coupé In 1938, BMW achieved one of their first international victories by taking a class win at that year’s Mille Milgia. This result was later trumped by an overall victory in 1940 using this one-of coupe 328 Touring Coupe built on chassis 85368. Being readily...
1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia ‘Büegelfalte’ For the 1940 Mille Miglia, BMW`s design department, Künstlerische Gestaltung, produced this one-of prototype with a streamlined body. It was driven by Count Giovanni Lurani and Franco Cortese and placed 6th overall. At the same race, two similar cars were built by Touring of...