///Marksman
New member
For those that arent a fan of reading, skip to the pictures...
Racing Origins
BMW's impact on motorsports can trace its lineage back to the company's first automobiles during the 1920s and '30s. In 1936, BMW built the legendary 328 which proved unbeatable in two-liter classes. Including the win in 1940 at the Mille Miglia which it then earned the name Mille Miglia Coupe. Over the decades, the terms ''coupe,'' ''sports,'' and ''lightweight'' would serve BMW well across international circuits, paving each raceway with the melting hearts of countless aficionados.
The Beginnings of BMW Motorsport GmbH
In 1973, the BMW 3.0 CSL made its debut and introduced the world to BMW Motorsport GmbH. Adorned with the now-classic three blue, violet, and red stripes, the 3.5 CSL won multiple titles, including the Touring Car Grand Prix at Nürburgring in its first attempt. Two years later, and a matter of days after BMW of North America was incorporated, the 3.5 CSL won the 12 Hours of Sebring, and continued its success with a victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1976. It would go on to become the most successful touring car of its day.
Success for BMW Motorsport GmbH would continue later in the decade with the introduction of the M1. Two-time Formula 1 World Championship winner, Niki Lauda, brought home three victories in eight 1979 ProCar races, while three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet won the ProCar championship series in 1980.
The M3 Conquers the Race Circuit
In 1986, the M3 was developed for racing homologation purposes, with a requisite 5,000 cars for competition in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). On the track it proved more than competent, winning its debut season of the series over opposition by Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Alfa Romeo, and Volvo. The M3 went on to win the European Touring Car Championship several times, the Tour de Corse rally and the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) twiceâ€â€for starters. The M3 would quickly become the most victorious racing car of all time, recording 1,436 victories in 1,628 days.
Over the years, the BMW M3 continued to finish in high standings throughout an array of professional circuits abroad, including the ADAC GT Cup of Germany in 1993, the IMSA GTS-2 Championship in 1996, the 24 Hours Nürburgring (winning 1-2 in 2004 and 2005), and the 24 Hours Spa, with drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck, Pedro Lamy, Jörg Müller, and Dirk Müller on the Spa-Francorchamps.
M3 Racing in North America
The first generation M3 swept through the racing circuits of Europe like wild fire. Winning the World Touring Car Championship in 1987, eight European Championships, and an additional 60 national titles, by 1992 the E30 M3 became the most successful touring car of all time. While the car was officially sold here, North American enthusiasts read about the M3's racing triumphs with fervor, but reading was one thing  they wanted to see it. Beginning with the introduction of the second generation E36 M3 they got exactly what they wanted  in spades.
BMW of North America began its first racing program only days after its incorporation in March of 1975. With BAVARIAN MOTOR WORKS lettered across the top of the windshield, the overall win by a BMW Motorsport-prepared 3.0 CSL at the 12 Hours of Sebring set the winning tone for the twists and turns of the next 30 years.
After the CSL's, the '70s decade ended with the 320 Turbo program that introduced BMW's move to a more refined, up-market model. Known affectionately as the ''Flying Brick'' the flame-throwing coupes delighted sports car racing fans with their signature exhaust fire. The program also added reams of data to BMW's turbo charging technology, information that would help a BMW-powered Brabham win the 1983 Formula One World Championship.
There were a few more fiery years in the late 1980s in IMSA's top prototype category with the BMW GTP. The very expensive program netted only one win, but added incalculable experience to BMW of North America. Back to production cars, BMW of North America sponsored a pair of E34 M5s to an IMSA Supercar championship. When the second generation M3 debuted in 1995, the company was ready for a major effort in production car racing.
The two M3s that rolled off the BMW Team PTG race truck at the 1995 24 Hours of Daytona looked very much like they had come directly from the showroom. They were, however, surprisingly fast as longtime BMW driver Dieter Quester took the GTS-2 class pole. This was the beginning of a long and successful run for the second generation M3.
When the M3s appeared at Daytona the next year it was obvious that things were getting very serious. The M3s almost leapt from the PTG transporter. They were lower, wider, and meaner. A second consecutive pole resulted in a podium finish (third) and the team knew they were finally on the right track. Later that season, in May, at Lime Rock Park, a 27-year old Bill Auberlen joined the effort. Auberlen would go on to win more races in an M3 than anyone in North America and grow to personify 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'. If the addition of Auberlen was the program's ''tipping point'' it was Sears Point Raceway, in July, that was the program's turning point. The team introduced its new, lighter ''sprint'' M3 and the new car led a 1-2-3 BMW sweep. Three more wins garnered BMW the 1996 IMSA GTS-2 Manufacturers title.
The next two years, 1997 and 1998, were arguably the most rewarding as, after serving notice the previous season, the BMW Team PTG M3s declared ownership of the GT class of sports car racing. Wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, plus six more victories, gave BMW its second Manufacturer's championship, as well as the Driver's crown to Auberlen and the Team title to PTG. As it did on the street, the four door sedan M3 was an equal part of the team, adding win after win.
The winning continued in 1998 with victories again at both Daytona and Sebring. Racing in two series simultaneously, (USRRC and SPORTS CAR) the BMW Team PTG M3s won seven more times, sweeping the Manufacturer, Driver and Team Championships.
New competition arrived in 1999 limiting the E36 M3s success to wins and the ALMS Team Championship.
The 2000 12 Hours of Sebring saw the introduction of the all new E46 M3, but the competition continued to be strong and it was not until the tenth round, at Laguna Seca Raceway, that BMW Team PTG reached the top step of the podium. It was the new M3's only victory in a development season.
BMW was back on top in 2001 as two BMW Team PTG M3s combined with two BMW Motorsport M3s to dominate the ALMS GT class and sweep the Manufacturer, Team and Drivers titles with the awesome, V8-powered M3 GTR. They proved a little too awesome however and racing rule changes made the car ineligible to return with the V8 engine.
After a hiatus in 2002 and a diversion to the SCCA's World Challenge Series in 2003, BMW Team PTG entered the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2004 and 2005. With new 6-cylinder powered E46 M3s, BMW Team PTG won 10 of 12 races to win the 2004 Manufacturer, Team and Driver Championships. The next year saw seven more wins with the team missing another Manufacturer's title by only seven points.
Returning to the ALMS for its final season in 2006, the M3s worked hard against competition with larger engines. In an unfamiliar role as underdog, the BMW Team PTG M3s reached the podium three times, showing that even as a six year old design, the M3 could still compete with more modern, powerful machinery. Although winless in 2006, the M3 retired an overall winner.
When the checkered flag fell on the last race of the 2006 season, BMW of North America wrote the final page of the most successful chapter to date of its 31-year motorsport story. From 1995 through 2006, BMW of North America's M3 racing program drove to 53 wins in 118 races entered, adding 14 championship trophies to corporate display cases and a shine on the Roundel like never before.
Major M3 Manufacturer's Championships
1987 E30 M3 - World Touring Car Championship
1988-92 E30 M3  60 National Touring Car Championships
1996 E36 M3 - IMSA GTS-2
1997 SportsCar GTS-3 (Sebring & Daytona wins)
1998 SportsCar GT3 (Sebring & Daytona wins)
1998 USRRC GT3
2001 ALMS GT
2004 Rolex Sports Car Series GT
2004-5 First and second overall, 24 Hours Nurburgring, M3 GTR
The M3's Triumphant Return
Now, BMW of North America has announced a return to ALMS, driven by a partnership with the Rahal Letterman Racing Team. Specially designed for another victorious season at ALMS, BMW's 2009 entry can be, and has been described as, a highly anticipated and hard-hitting ''engineering marvel.'' These two factory supported M3s mark a pivotal comeback for the brand and its reengineered racecarâ€â€to pave the way for a new and particular species of sporting.
Built to find a perfect compromise between satisfying motorsport enthusiasts and domestic drivers the world over, BMW's M3 can stand on its own as one of the most successful production cars and performance vehicles to ever draw a tear from the hardest-to-please of racing experts. When tame, the gentle hum of a smoothly operating engine can be the lullaby to every driver's dreamâ€â€but once you shift gears to release those 400-plus ponies, it's a white-knuckled ride from this corner to that beautiful horizon.
~Source, BMWUSA - I would have loved to give a personal write up, but it would have been 4 times longer.
Four generations of purpose, perfection and passion
^ Missing a few members of the family, but those guys represent just fine.
I'm thankful to bisan from m3post, it was his post that just brought back some really good memories. My first encounter with an e36 M3 quite some years ago was fucking awesome, had it not been for that specific car i may have never even considered a BMW in my garage:thumbsup:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348184
Racing Origins
BMW's impact on motorsports can trace its lineage back to the company's first automobiles during the 1920s and '30s. In 1936, BMW built the legendary 328 which proved unbeatable in two-liter classes. Including the win in 1940 at the Mille Miglia which it then earned the name Mille Miglia Coupe. Over the decades, the terms ''coupe,'' ''sports,'' and ''lightweight'' would serve BMW well across international circuits, paving each raceway with the melting hearts of countless aficionados.
The Beginnings of BMW Motorsport GmbH
In 1973, the BMW 3.0 CSL made its debut and introduced the world to BMW Motorsport GmbH. Adorned with the now-classic three blue, violet, and red stripes, the 3.5 CSL won multiple titles, including the Touring Car Grand Prix at Nürburgring in its first attempt. Two years later, and a matter of days after BMW of North America was incorporated, the 3.5 CSL won the 12 Hours of Sebring, and continued its success with a victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1976. It would go on to become the most successful touring car of its day.
Success for BMW Motorsport GmbH would continue later in the decade with the introduction of the M1. Two-time Formula 1 World Championship winner, Niki Lauda, brought home three victories in eight 1979 ProCar races, while three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet won the ProCar championship series in 1980.
The M3 Conquers the Race Circuit
In 1986, the M3 was developed for racing homologation purposes, with a requisite 5,000 cars for competition in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). On the track it proved more than competent, winning its debut season of the series over opposition by Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Alfa Romeo, and Volvo. The M3 went on to win the European Touring Car Championship several times, the Tour de Corse rally and the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) twiceâ€â€for starters. The M3 would quickly become the most victorious racing car of all time, recording 1,436 victories in 1,628 days.
Over the years, the BMW M3 continued to finish in high standings throughout an array of professional circuits abroad, including the ADAC GT Cup of Germany in 1993, the IMSA GTS-2 Championship in 1996, the 24 Hours Nürburgring (winning 1-2 in 2004 and 2005), and the 24 Hours Spa, with drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck, Pedro Lamy, Jörg Müller, and Dirk Müller on the Spa-Francorchamps.
M3 Racing in North America
The first generation M3 swept through the racing circuits of Europe like wild fire. Winning the World Touring Car Championship in 1987, eight European Championships, and an additional 60 national titles, by 1992 the E30 M3 became the most successful touring car of all time. While the car was officially sold here, North American enthusiasts read about the M3's racing triumphs with fervor, but reading was one thing  they wanted to see it. Beginning with the introduction of the second generation E36 M3 they got exactly what they wanted  in spades.
BMW of North America began its first racing program only days after its incorporation in March of 1975. With BAVARIAN MOTOR WORKS lettered across the top of the windshield, the overall win by a BMW Motorsport-prepared 3.0 CSL at the 12 Hours of Sebring set the winning tone for the twists and turns of the next 30 years.
After the CSL's, the '70s decade ended with the 320 Turbo program that introduced BMW's move to a more refined, up-market model. Known affectionately as the ''Flying Brick'' the flame-throwing coupes delighted sports car racing fans with their signature exhaust fire. The program also added reams of data to BMW's turbo charging technology, information that would help a BMW-powered Brabham win the 1983 Formula One World Championship.
There were a few more fiery years in the late 1980s in IMSA's top prototype category with the BMW GTP. The very expensive program netted only one win, but added incalculable experience to BMW of North America. Back to production cars, BMW of North America sponsored a pair of E34 M5s to an IMSA Supercar championship. When the second generation M3 debuted in 1995, the company was ready for a major effort in production car racing.
The two M3s that rolled off the BMW Team PTG race truck at the 1995 24 Hours of Daytona looked very much like they had come directly from the showroom. They were, however, surprisingly fast as longtime BMW driver Dieter Quester took the GTS-2 class pole. This was the beginning of a long and successful run for the second generation M3.
When the M3s appeared at Daytona the next year it was obvious that things were getting very serious. The M3s almost leapt from the PTG transporter. They were lower, wider, and meaner. A second consecutive pole resulted in a podium finish (third) and the team knew they were finally on the right track. Later that season, in May, at Lime Rock Park, a 27-year old Bill Auberlen joined the effort. Auberlen would go on to win more races in an M3 than anyone in North America and grow to personify 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'. If the addition of Auberlen was the program's ''tipping point'' it was Sears Point Raceway, in July, that was the program's turning point. The team introduced its new, lighter ''sprint'' M3 and the new car led a 1-2-3 BMW sweep. Three more wins garnered BMW the 1996 IMSA GTS-2 Manufacturers title.
The next two years, 1997 and 1998, were arguably the most rewarding as, after serving notice the previous season, the BMW Team PTG M3s declared ownership of the GT class of sports car racing. Wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, plus six more victories, gave BMW its second Manufacturer's championship, as well as the Driver's crown to Auberlen and the Team title to PTG. As it did on the street, the four door sedan M3 was an equal part of the team, adding win after win.
The winning continued in 1998 with victories again at both Daytona and Sebring. Racing in two series simultaneously, (USRRC and SPORTS CAR) the BMW Team PTG M3s won seven more times, sweeping the Manufacturer, Driver and Team Championships.
New competition arrived in 1999 limiting the E36 M3s success to wins and the ALMS Team Championship.
The 2000 12 Hours of Sebring saw the introduction of the all new E46 M3, but the competition continued to be strong and it was not until the tenth round, at Laguna Seca Raceway, that BMW Team PTG reached the top step of the podium. It was the new M3's only victory in a development season.
BMW was back on top in 2001 as two BMW Team PTG M3s combined with two BMW Motorsport M3s to dominate the ALMS GT class and sweep the Manufacturer, Team and Drivers titles with the awesome, V8-powered M3 GTR. They proved a little too awesome however and racing rule changes made the car ineligible to return with the V8 engine.
After a hiatus in 2002 and a diversion to the SCCA's World Challenge Series in 2003, BMW Team PTG entered the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2004 and 2005. With new 6-cylinder powered E46 M3s, BMW Team PTG won 10 of 12 races to win the 2004 Manufacturer, Team and Driver Championships. The next year saw seven more wins with the team missing another Manufacturer's title by only seven points.
Returning to the ALMS for its final season in 2006, the M3s worked hard against competition with larger engines. In an unfamiliar role as underdog, the BMW Team PTG M3s reached the podium three times, showing that even as a six year old design, the M3 could still compete with more modern, powerful machinery. Although winless in 2006, the M3 retired an overall winner.
When the checkered flag fell on the last race of the 2006 season, BMW of North America wrote the final page of the most successful chapter to date of its 31-year motorsport story. From 1995 through 2006, BMW of North America's M3 racing program drove to 53 wins in 118 races entered, adding 14 championship trophies to corporate display cases and a shine on the Roundel like never before.
Major M3 Manufacturer's Championships
1987 E30 M3 - World Touring Car Championship
1988-92 E30 M3  60 National Touring Car Championships
1996 E36 M3 - IMSA GTS-2
1997 SportsCar GTS-3 (Sebring & Daytona wins)
1998 SportsCar GT3 (Sebring & Daytona wins)
1998 USRRC GT3
2001 ALMS GT
2004 Rolex Sports Car Series GT
2004-5 First and second overall, 24 Hours Nurburgring, M3 GTR
The M3's Triumphant Return
Now, BMW of North America has announced a return to ALMS, driven by a partnership with the Rahal Letterman Racing Team. Specially designed for another victorious season at ALMS, BMW's 2009 entry can be, and has been described as, a highly anticipated and hard-hitting ''engineering marvel.'' These two factory supported M3s mark a pivotal comeback for the brand and its reengineered racecarâ€â€to pave the way for a new and particular species of sporting.
Built to find a perfect compromise between satisfying motorsport enthusiasts and domestic drivers the world over, BMW's M3 can stand on its own as one of the most successful production cars and performance vehicles to ever draw a tear from the hardest-to-please of racing experts. When tame, the gentle hum of a smoothly operating engine can be the lullaby to every driver's dreamâ€â€but once you shift gears to release those 400-plus ponies, it's a white-knuckled ride from this corner to that beautiful horizon.
~Source, BMWUSA - I would have loved to give a personal write up, but it would have been 4 times longer.
Four generations of purpose, perfection and passion
^ Missing a few members of the family, but those guys represent just fine.
I'm thankful to bisan from m3post, it was his post that just brought back some really good memories. My first encounter with an e36 M3 quite some years ago was fucking awesome, had it not been for that specific car i may have never even considered a BMW in my garage:thumbsup:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348184
