Background
When the 3-series E21 was launched in 1975 it quickly became a hugely successful touring car, and therefore it was perhaps not too surprising that the crossover to rallying followed shortly after, with Timo Mäkinen driving a French importer’s 320 on the Rally Monte Carlo, Ingvar Carlsson using a 320 and later the 323i on the Swedish Rally.
But it was with the launch of the E30, that BMW asked Prodrive to run a touring car program using their new top of the range performance model, the M3.
Prodrive soon saw the potential of the car as a tarmac rally challenger, but even they were surprised when on its first event, the 1987 Tour de Corse Rally, in the hands of Bernard Beguin it took an outright win.
For the next 3-4 years the M3 was a well-loved car on the Irish, French and Belgian Rally Championships, winning many titles. However, without a turbo and 4×4 it soon struggled to keep up with the ever-evolving Lancia Delta on the World Rally Championship.
This car
The M3 is a tribute to Marc Duez’s 1989 ‘Fina’ liveried M3. Marc Duez has been described as the most well-known man in Belgium motorsport.
His accolades include being: 3 times Belgian champion; Group N winner Rallye Monte Carlo and a factory driver for BMW Motorsport, Toyota Team Europe, Seat Sport in World Rally Championship’s.
The 1989 WRC season saw Marc Duez in the ‘Fina’ BMW M3 achieve an overall 13th place with 8th in the Monte Carlo Rally,5th in Rallye of Portugal,6th in Tour de Corse,12th Rally Finland and 7th Rallye Sanremo.
Technical specification
Engine: 2500cc, 4-cylinder 16v Millington
Induction system: Naturally aspirated, Multi point injection.
Transmission: 6 speed sequential gearbox.
Power output: 300bhp.