BMW M GmbH was born out of motorsport. Time to take a look at the milestones in its history.
BMW 3.0 CSL – FROM ZERO TO HERO.
BMW 3.0 CSL – FROM ZERO TO HERO.
It is the origin of today’s BMW M GmbH and a milestone in the history of motorsport. It would be easier to list where in the world the BMW 3.0 CSL has not been successful. In its very first season, the model won several championships – including the European Championship title. This was a huge success for BMW Motorsport GmbH, which had just been launched the year before. From 1974 to 1979, the BMW 3.0 CSL won the European Touring Car Championship five more times. It was class winner at the legendary Le Mans race and took overall victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Still impressive today, but borderline legendary more than half a century ago: the motorsport version of the 3.0 CSL delivered up to 440 hp. The vehicle accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in around four seconds – reaching a top speed of 275 km/h. Its performance and successes make the BMW 3.0 CSL an automotive legend – for BMW M and for motorsport in general.
BMW M1 PROCAR – THE FORMULA 1 ATTRACTION.
BMW M1 PROCAR – THE FORMULA 1 ATTRACTION.
Today it would be unthinkable, but in the 1970s, the fastest Formula 1 drivers competed in a second championship during race weekends: the BMW M1 Procar Series. The main prize for the best driver was a BMW M1.
From Jacques Laffite and Didier Pironi to Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann to Nelson Piquet and Niki Lauda – each of these outstanding drivers got behind the wheel of a BMW M1 Procar and competed for the top prize. But only two secured it: Piquet and Lauda.
BMW BRABHAM BT52 – WORLD CHAMPION IN 630 DAYS.
BMW BRABHAM BT52 – WORLD CHAMPION IN 630 DAYS.
Nelson Piquet won the first Formula 1 race in São Paulo with the BMW Brabham BT52, laying the foundation for what was then the greatest success in the history of BMW Motorsport GmbH. The technical mastermind behind this success was engine developer Paul Rosche, who designed the fascinating power unit. Piquet drove it to the title with throttle finesse. After only 630 days of Formula 1 involvement by BMW Motorsport GmbH, he became world champion – and the turbo engine with over 1,000 hp became the power unit to beat in the future.
BMW M3 E30 – THE CHAMPION MAKER.
BMW M3 E30 – THE CHAMPION MAKER.
In 1987, the BMW M3 touring car made its debut in motor racing. What followed is unprecedented in racing history: with more than 1,400 race wins and numerous championship titles in almost every series, including the world championship title, the BMW M3 E30 remains the most successful touring car in the world to this day. From champions such as Eric van de Poele to Johnny Cecotto and Roberto Ravaglia: the motorsport history of the BMW M3 E30 is unrivalled. Among motorsport enthusiasts, the vehicle has therefore become known as ‘the champion maker’.
BMW V12 LMR – THE LE MANS WINNER.
BMW V12 LMR – THE LE MANS WINNER.
The company, meanwhile renamed BMW M, had set itself an ambitious goal for the millennium’s last 24 Hours of Le Mans. The BMW V12 LMR had to hold its own in one of the strongest starting fields in history. But after 365 laps, Joachim Winkelhock, Pierluigi Martini and Yannick Dalmas had the aerodynamic edge with their factory racing car, which weighed just 915 kg.
As so often with BMW M, the secret to success lay in the engine: the power unit was more durable and robust than those of the competition. With a displacement of just under six litres spread across twelve cylinders, the S70/3 was designed from the outset to cover twice the distance of a 24-hour race at Le Mans.
BMW M3 GT2 – THE ENDURANCE ATHLETE.
BMW M3 GT2 – THE ENDURANCE ATHLETE.
Since 1970, the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring has been writing history of its own and cemented its reputation as the most difficult endurance race in the world. Unpredictable conditions and the spectacular track layout make the race a highlight in the racing calendar. For a vehicle to be victorious here, it must master several disciplines and be an all-rounder: fast, robust, good-natured and powerful. The BMW M3 GT2 was such a vehicle: in 2010, it clinched overall victory after 154 laps. Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus, Uwe Alzen and Pedro Lamy defied all the favourites and played their part in creating the legend of the BMW M racing car.
BMW M3 DTM – ZERO TO HERO, PART II.
BMW M3 DTM – ZERO TO HERO, PART II.
From 1984 to 1992, BMW M teams, drivers and vehicles dominated the DTM. Twenty years passed before factory teams made their comeback with the BMW M3 DTM. And the comeback was superbly executed: in only his second race at the Lausitzring, Bruno Spengler made it to the top of the podium in his M3 racing car with its black BMW Bank livery. After a total of four victories and a dramatic finale, Spengler was crowned champion in his comeback year. At the same time, BMW and BMW Team Schnitzer won the manufacturer and team titles.
BMW M6 GT3 – KING OF THE RING.
BMW M6 GT3 – KING OF THE RING.
No other manufacturer has secured overall victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring as often as BMW M. One vehicle that has consistently contributed to this glorious list of victories is the BMW M6 GT3. At the 48th edition of the endurance classic, it was this very M6 that celebrated the 20th title for BMW M: ROWE Racing won the Eifel thriller. At the wheel: Nick Catsburg, Alexander Sims and Nick Yelloly.
The BMW M6 GT3 had the honour of becoming the canvas for a BMW Art Car not once, but twice: both US artist John Baldessari and Chinese media artist Cao Fei transformed the GT racing car into a distinctive masterpiece.
BMW M HYBRID V8 – BACK TO LE MANS.
BMW M HYBRID V8 – BACK TO LE MANS.
It was an announcement that packed a punch: BMW M returned to endurance racing in early 2023 with the BMW M Hybrid V8 – with an extremely powerful prototype chassis for the WEC and IWSC racing series. The vehicle made its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona and secured its first victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen in the same season. The powertrain, consisting of a 4.0-litre V8 turbo engine (P66/3) with around 640 hp and an electric motor, provides spectacular performance for the race car, which weighs only around one tonne. The model also became the basis for the 22nd BMW Art Car by Julie Mehretu in 2024.
BMW M4 GT3 EVO – VENI, VIDI, VICI.
BMW M4 GT3 EVO – VENI, VIDI, VICI.
The BMW M4 GT3 EVO made its racing debut in early 2025 and immediately scored its first victory. At the 24 Hours of Dubai, the #777 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from AlManar Racing by Team WRT confidently claimed overall victory in the GT3 Pro class, marking a perfect start for the new GT flagship from the M brand. Further triumphs in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season and the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi followed in quick succession. Another sensation followed: At the Nürburgring 24-hours, Rowe Racing secured the 21st overall victory for BMW M in the endurance classic. True to the motto ‘Best never rest’, the EVO is impressively continuing the success story of its predecessor, the BMW M4 GT3. With a focus on improved performance, drivability, efficiency and reliability, the EVO is set to establish itself as the new benchmark in the GT3 field.
