Undoubtedly one of BMWs most iconic racing cars, the E30-generation M3 dominated not only Group A but also DTM racing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Across six years of period competition from 1987-1992, within DTM the M3 brought BMW a world championship title, two European championship titles, and over sixty national championship titles. In 24 hour races at both the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps, the M3 accrued eight victories, and it even saw success in rallying and hill climb championships. The most successful touring car of all time, M3s not only performed brilliantly in period, but are highly sought after and competitive today in historic racing, just like the car offered here.
Supplied new to BMW Team Bigazzi in advance of the 1989 Campionato Italiano Velocita Turismo (the Italian Touring Car Championship), chassis number M3 11190 was initially built to Group A specifications and driven throughout that year by a handful of well-known drivers, including Jacques Laffite, Jean-Michel Martin, Pierluigi Martini, Gianni Morbidelli, and Antonio Tamburini in the iconic Monteshell livery.
Following the conclusion of the 1989 season, the M3 would be retained by BMW Team Bigazzi and was used for testing and development in between the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Simultaneously, British touring car driver Steve Soper, who was racing for BMW in DTM with Zakspeed in 1989, convinced the top brass at BMW Motorsport to have Bigazzi enter DTM in 1990. Once this was agreed, chassis number M3 11190 was updated to DTM specifications, which included fitting a new 2.5-litre S14 engine, capable of producing 340 bhp at 9,000 rpm. Alongside its updated specification, the car was refinished in BMW M Sport/Warsteiner livery, which it proudly wears to this day.
Soper would only drive this car once in period, at the AvD/HMSC-Flugplatzrennen Mainz-Finthen round of the DTM championship in May of 1990. Despite qualifying 31st, Soper managed to finish 4th in race one and 2nd in race two. At the end of the 1990 season, the car was sold by BMW Team Bigazzi to a privateer in Italy, where it would remain until 2010 when it was acquired by the current owner with the assistance of Soper and imported to the U.K.
Since being acquired by the consignor, the M3 has been prepared and maintained for historic racing by Amspeed Racing of Brackley, well-regarded, U.K.-based BMW race car specialists. Under their supervision, the car has been no stranger to the historic motorsport circuit in the UK and its fantastic results showcase its level of competitiveness. Steve Soper has continued to race the car on a handful of occasions, most notably at the 2010 and 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, as well as at the Goodwood Members Meeting.
Importantly, the car would be crowned series champion in the 2013 Historic Sports Car Club Super Touring Car Challenge as well as in Motor Racing Legends’ Historic Touring Car Challenge in 2018. Another highlight of the car’s historic racing career came in 2023, where it took overall victory at the Donington Historic Festival in Motor Racing Legends’ Historic Touring Car Challenge, driven by the consignor and four-time BTCC champion Colin Turkington. Off track, the car has been featured in a handful of articles in the following magazines: Motorsport (March 2011), BMWCar (October 2015), and Vintage Racecar (August 2016). Finally, it is accompanied by a current FIA Historic Technical Passport, which remains valid until December 31, 2028.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire an original E30 M3 DTM that is capable of running at the front of HTCC grid in a series and era of car that are continuing to grow in both popularity and value. Having already enjoyed multiple entries to Goodwood Members Meeting and Festival of Speed, the car would surely be welcome back to either event thanks to its rich history and competitive results in the hands of Emanuele Pirro and Steve Soper…both in period results and historic racing.
