Top Ten BMW Race/Rally Cars, Celebrating BMW's 100th Birthday

On 7 March 1916 was the birth of BMW, this year is the 100th year BMW has been producing cars and bikes. As so, this post is the Top Ten BMW Race/Rally Cars from BMW's history.



This list is anything goes that does includes any Formula One cars, LMP1s, Touring cars and Superbikes. So basically 100% BMWs, starting with Number Ten:

Number 10: 2009- BMW S1000RR
Story: The BMW S1000RR is a sport bike initially made by BMW Motorrad to compete in the 2009 Superbike World Championship, that is now in commercial production. The BMW S1000RR uses a BMW 999 cc inline-4 engine producing 193 bhp @ 13,500 rpm. So far BMW S1000RR have took twelve World Superbike wins, nine for Marco Melandri and three for Chaz Davies.



Number 9: 2008 BMW Sauber F1.08
Story: BMW Sauber F1.08 was designed by Willy Rampf, the BMW Sauber F1.08 had the 2.4 litre BMW V8 engine underneath. The BMW Sauber F1.08 took an impressive one two finish with Robert Kubica taking the win and Nick Hiedfied finishing in second place at that seasons Canadian Grand Prix, for BMW's only Grand Prix win as a constructor. Overall, the BMW Sauber F1.08 took a race win, seven second place finishes, three third place finishes, two fastest laps, one pole position, 135 points in 2008 F1 season, took Robert Kubica to equal third in the F1 Drivers' Standings in 2008, and BMW Sauber to third place in the Constructors' Standings in 2008.



Number 8: 2003 Williams FW25
Story: Williams FW25 was designed by Patrick Head, Gavin Fisher and Antonia Terzi; the Williams FW25 had the 3 litre BMW V10 engine underneath. The Williams FW25 took Williams to second place in the 2003 F1 Constructors' Standings. The Williams FW25 won four races, two for Juan Pablo Montoya and two for Ralf Schumacher as-well.



Number 7: 2012- BMW M3 DTM/M4 DTM
Story: The BMW M3 DTM/M4 DTM was designed for DTM rules. BMW M3 DTM/M4 DTM was powered by the BMW 4 litre V8 engine underneath. So far the BMW M3 DTM/M4 DTM has won two DTM titles for Bruno Spengler in 2012 (in the M3 DTM)and for Marco Wittmann in 2014 (in the M4 DTM). Three Constructor Championships for BMW in 2012, 2013 and 2015 so far in its short DTM Career.





Number 6: 1991-2000 BMW 318i
Story: The BMW 318i was designed for Super Touring rules.



BMW 318i was powered by the BMW four cylinder 2 litre engine underneath. Overall, the BMW 318i was a dominating race car in the Super Touring era, with many championship wins from the rear-wheel drive machine.

• Which includes wins in the Super Tourenwagen Cup, with three championships for Johnny Cecotto in 1994 and 1997, and then Joachim Winkelhock in 1995.
• Two British Touring Car Championships for Tim Harvey in 1992, and then for Joachim Winkelhock in 1993.
• Two Italian Superturismo Championships for Roberto Ravaglia in 1993, and then for Emanuele Naspetti in 1997.
• Four French Supertouring Championships for Yvan Muller in 1995, and then for Eric Cayrolle in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
• Six Australian Super Touring Championships for Tony Longhurst in 1994, Alan Gurr in 2000, and then for Paul Morris in 1995,1997, 1999 and 2000.
• One 24 Hours Nürburgring win in 1995.
• Five Spa 24 Hours wins between 1994 to 1998.

Number 5: 2002-2010 BMW 320i/BMW 320si
Story: The BMW 320i/BMW 320si was designed for S2000 rules.



BMW 320i/BMW 320si was powered by the BMW four cylinder 2 litre engine underneath. Overall, the BMW 320i/BMW 320si was a dominating race car in the Super Touring era, with many championship wins from the rear-wheel drive machine.

• Which includes wins in the European Touring Car Championship in 2004 for Andy Priaulx.
• One British Touring Car Championship for Colin Turkington in 2009.
• Three World Touring Car Championship drivers' championships for Andy Priaulx in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
• Three World Touring Car Manufacturers' Championships for BMW in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
• And fifty-two outright wins in the World Touring Car Championship.

Number 4: 1972-79 BMW 3.0 CSL
Story: Nicknamed as the "Batmobile", the BMW 3.0 CSL was powered by the BMW six cylinder 3 litre engine underneath.



Overall, the BMW 3.0 CSL was a dominating race car in its era, with many championship wins from the rear-wheel drive machine.

• Which includes six wins in the European Touring Car Championship in 1973 for Toine Hezemans, Siegfried Müller Sr. and Alain Peltier in 1975, Jean Xhenceval and Pierre Dieudonné in 1976, Dieter Quester in 1977, Umberto Grano in 1978, and then for Martino Finotto and Carlo Facetti in 1979.
• One outright 24 Hour of Daytona win in 1976 with Peter Gregg, Brian Redman and John Fitzpatrick behind the wheel.
• Four Spa 24 Hours wins between 1973 to 1976.
• And one 24 Hours Nürburgring win in 1973 with Niki Lauda (yes, that Niki Lauda) and Hans-Peter Joisten behind the wheel.

Number 3: 1999 BMW V12 LMR
Story: Designed and developed by the Williams F1 team back in 1999. The BMW V12 LMR used a BMW 6 litre V12 engine which produces over 600 bhp. Which took, BMW to its only outright victory at Le Mans, winning the 1999 24 hours of Le Mans race with Pierluigi Martini, Yannick Dalmas and Joachim Winkelhock as drivers on that day.



Number 2: 1983 Brabham BT52
Story: Brabham BT52 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT52 was powered by the BMW four cylinder 1.5 litre turbocharged engine underneath, which in 1983 produced about 850 bhp in qualifying, detuned to around 600 bhp for race spec. Brabham BT52 took four wins in 1983, three for Nelson Piquet and one for Riccardo Patrese. While Nelson Piquet driving the Brabham BMW BT52 took the drivers championship in 1983 and winning his second of his third F1 drivers championship. And took Brabham to third place in the Constructors' Standings that year.



Number 1: 1986-92 BMW M3
Story: The BMW M3 was designed for Group A rules.



BMW M3 was powered by the BMW four cylinder 2.3 litre engine underneath. Overall the BMW M3 was the most dominating Group A race car with many championship wins from the rear-wheel drive machine.

• Which include wins in the World Touring Car Championship in 1987 with Roberto Ravaglia.
• Two European Touring Car Championships for Winfried Vogt in 1988 and then for Roberto Ravaglia in 1988.
• Two DTM championships for Eric van de Poele in 1987, and then for Roberto Ravaglia in 1989.
• Two British Touring Car Championships for Frank Sytner in 1988, and then for Will Hoy in 1991.
• Four Italian Superturismo Championships for Michele Di Gioia in 1987, Johnny Cecotto in 1989, and for Roberto Ravaglia in 1990 and 1991.
• Four French Supertouring Championships for Fabien Giroix in 1987, and then for Jean-Pierre Malcher in 1988, 1989, and 1990.
• 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship for Jim Richards.
• 1993 Australian Super Touring Championship for Peter Doulmanin.
• Five 24 Hours Nürburgring wins (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994).
• Four Spa 24 Hours wins (1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992).
• And one WRC win for Bernard Béguin at the 1987 Tour de Corse.

Basically the BMW M3 was the ultimate winning machine from BMW, and the greatest BMW Race/Rally Car ever!



Happy 100th Birthday BMW.