The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, US is to celebrate 50 years of racing BMW 3-Series models with a special display in the James H Frank Family Vault, in association with BMW.
The Ultimate Racing Machine: 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series in Motorsports exhibition traces the path the 3-Series has taken during the past five decades, racing around the world at the highest level. Visitors can expect to see such legendary machines as the 1978 Group 5 320i, a 1990 Group A/DTM M3, a 2001 M3 GTR and a one-of three M3 GTR Straßenversion.
One of the brand’s most successful cars in motor sport takes pride of place in the Petersen exhibition; the E30 M3 won the World Touring Car Championship, the European Touring Car Championship twice, the DTM twice, the British Touring Car Championship twice and the Italian Superturismo Championship twice. It even proved its worth in Tarmac rallying, winning the Tour de Corse in 1987.
However, The Ultimate Racing Machine: 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series in Motorsports also pays tribute to the M3’s further victories, such as the phenomenally successful E36 M3 GTs that did battle in the IMSA GT Championship in the late 1990s, and then the American Le Mans Series GT category-winning but controversial M3 GTR. The story is brought up to date via the car’s evolution into GT racing across the globe, and its new moniker, the M4.
The original BMW 3-Series and now the 3-Series and its ‘fraternal twin’ the 4-Series are the core of the BMW brand
“We are excited to celebrate 50 years of BMW 3-Series in partnership with the Petersen Automotive Museum with this special exhibit,” said Thomas Plucinsky, Head of BMW Group Classic USA. “The original BMW 3-Series and now the 3-Series and its ‘fraternal twin’ the 4-Series are the core of the BMW brand. The Ultimate Racing Machine exhibit brings together seven of the most successful and important race cars – one from each generation combined with a couple of wonderfully preserved street examples, including one of the three remaining V8-powered M3 GTR Straßenversions.”
The list of cars on display in The Ultimate Racing Machine: 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series in Motorsports includes a 1978 BMW 320i Group 5,1983 BMW 320i, 1990 BMW M3 Group A/DTM, 1990 BMW M3 GTM, 1996 BMW M3 GT2, 2001 BMW M3 GTR, 2001 BMW M3 GTR Straßenversion, 2011 BMW M3 GT, 2020 BMW M4 DTM Class 1, 2023 BMW M4 GT4 and 2024 BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
More details on The Ultimate Racing Machine: 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series in Motorsports can be found at the Petersen Automotive Museum here.
