Friday 31st July 2009

Pic Of The Week: BMW M1 Procar

Why this M1 is way better than the motorway

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The news this week that BMW is set to reprise the original M-car - the mid-engined BMW M1 supercar - has got us all hopeful that we might also see a re-imagining of the wonderful M1 Procar race series.

The M1 Procar series was devised as a way for BMW to meet new homologation rules for world sports car racing and ran as a support race for the F1 world championship in 1979 and 1980.

While the roadgoing M1 used the 273bhp 3.5-litre straight six M88 engine that would eventually also see service in the M635CSi and the E28 M5, the race versions used a heavily modified version with around 470bhp at 9000rpm. That was good enough for the race car to hit 60 in around 4.3sec and reach 193mph flat out.

This particular car is being driven by Dutch driver Michael Bleekemolen at Zandvoort in 1979. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the heroic cornering angle, he is destined never to finish the race, eventually crashing out from 12th place.

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[dpbird90]

Sweet pic, finally a POTW worthy of replacing the Aston DBR1/LMP1 from a month ago as my wallpaper

[patmahe]

oh fk me that is filth

[S3_Graham]

arghhhhh... my bloody work firewall is blocking me from opening/saving it... GAH!

[rev-erend]

Arrrh.

The one make series. Just what BWM need after F1.

At least they are guaranteed of winning

[Munter]

Saw 2 of those in the classic race at the nurburgrung 24 hour. Soooo Cooooool.

[B10]

Saw them as a prelude to the race of champions at Donnington years ago. It was great idea to have F1 drivers having a fun one make series. Should be re-introduced.

[Collaudatore]

Thanks PH, great pic!

[Gridl0k]

S3_Graham said:

arghhhhh... my bloody work firewall is blocking me from opening/saving it... GAH!

Try pasting the URL into a normal My Computer window..

[Lord Croker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVkY8oA3RlE

Enjoy (if you have speakers)

[fastgerman.com]

WOW! Better than a Victoria Secret fashion show

[DP 1]

Would be cool with BMW's retreat from F1 if they could organise another race series like this, getting F1 stars and other drivers to compete in identical cars.

[shouldbworking]

Quick excuse to post the art car

[Droptheclutch]

DP 1 said:

Would be cool with BMW's retreat from F1 if they could organise another race series like this, getting F1 stars and other drivers to compete in identical cars.

A 'la IROC 911's...mmmm!

[Droptheclutch]

Oh, and here are a few snaps I took while at the Nurburgring (GP track) a while back...







Just love these cars!

[Podie]

rev-erend said:

Arrrh.

The one make series. Just what BWM need after F1.

At least they are guaranteed of winning

I thought it was only becuase they weren't eligible for the series they were designed to enter...?

Whilst a lovely bit of metal, it wasn't one of BMW's greatest success... at the time.

Edited by Podie on Friday 31st July 15:19

[Riggers]

That's right - they were designed to meet Group 5 technical regulations, but FISA changed these in 1977 to say 400 road cars had to be built.

So rather than wait until the 400 road cars were made, BMW created the Procar race series, almost like a holding pattern for the race cars.

[Podie]

Had it in my head it was Grp4..

[woad]

Hmmm. I'd love to own one of these today. For some reason, I dont like the 1 series, seem to be driven by total nobs. I'd give my left nut to be down the pub when one of these young gentlemen is yapping about his "wunner", and casually state I have an M1. Listen to the spouting of the kids telling me BMW dont do an M1, or its "just an M-pack, not a real M car, not like the M3/5/XM/etc"...

I did wonder why BMW haven't done an M car in the 1-series. Now we now... its nothing to do with it!

[Stuart]

I know someone that has one. Lovely thing, but he's had to buy 3 ECUs for it in his time because they really don't like being jump started. £1500 a pop, IIRC.

[Orb the Impaler]

Wow! 30 years old and that still looks brilliant.