BMW M3 E30 WTCC 1987 v1.2

With a World Touring Car Championship being held for the first time in 1987, the BMW M3 was simply perfect for this new challenge, the 2.3-litre power unit being boosted to a maximum of 300 hp at 8,200 rpm compared with the 200 hp of the 2.3-litre road-going version and thus offering the same power as the BMW 635 CSi.

Instead of entering a works team, BMWs decision in this first season was to support a number of renowned private teams such as Linder, Schnitzer and Zakspeed. And the famous drivers to be admired at the wheel of the BMW M3 included the likes of Christian Danner, Markus Oestreich, Roberto Ravaglia, and Emanuele Pirro. Featuring Anette Meeuvissen and Mercedes Stermitz at the wheel, there was also a ladies team driving the new sports car from Munich in the World Touring Car Championship.

The first race in the new series was in Monza, Italy, on 22 March 1987, but it did not come under a good star for BMW, with all M3s being excluded from the final scoreboard after the cars had been scrutinised under partly chaotic conditions and disqualified because of allegedly illegal panel thickness. And although BMW naturally appealed the decision, the Company’s complaint was rejected by the sports officials on the grounds that it had been submitted too late.

The chaotic start did not stop Ravaglia from securing the championship later that season – as the first World Touring Car Champion.

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