
With success: Nelson Piquet won the opening race in São Paulo. The Brazilian clinched the first victory on 13th June in Montreal.įor the world championship 1983, the BMW turbo engine was further optimized. The first Formula 1 points were captured by the BMW-engined Brabham shortly afterwards: On 9th May 1982, Nelson Piquet finished fifth in the GP of Belgium. On 23rd January 1982, Nelson Piquet and Riccardo Patrese opened the season in Kyalami in the Brabham BMW’s first outing. With special fuel and an exhaust-driven turbo-charger, the engine first had an output of 630 hp and in later years up to 1,400 hp.

Paul Rosche constructed the first F1 engine for the Bavarians, a four-cylinder inline engine block with 1.5 litres capacity. On the 24th April 1980, BMW announced they were entering formula sport. The BMW E9, the base model of the 3.0 CSL, still emanates unmistakeable motorsport charm today and is a legend of sports car history. And the coupé convinced Stuck not only on the Nordschleife, but away from the racetrack too he was often seen in his private 3.0 CSL. Another motorsports legend was persuaded by the power of the first BMW M: together with Chris Amon, Hans-Joachim Stuck won the 6 Hours of the Nürburgring in the 3.0 CSL’s first outing at the event. Swede Ronnie Peterson could scarcely believe the rear wheelspin – at 250 km/h.
Old beamer car drivers#
The stories and successes of the drivers of the 3.0 CSL are also legendary. A purebred racing car was created which had up to 440 hp, accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds and whose top speed was 275 km/h. The creation of BMW Motorsport GmbH was the perfect solution and the start of a great company history. Although the BMW 3.0 CSL was planned in the central motorsport department of BMW, development and production required new standards. The title of “first real M” can be traced back to its influence on the founding of BMW motorsport GmbH. From 1973 to 1979, the coupé was the car to beat in almost every touring car championship – including the ETCC (European Touring Car Championship).

The BMW 3.0 CSL really earned its reputation as one of the most iconic BMW motorsport vehicles. Already in the first year, Toine Hezemans won the European Touring Car Championship and the 3.0 CSL became the legendary racing car of its time. And a new touring car coupé about which Jochen Neerpasch said: “As we see 1973 as a development year, we don’t also see ourselves winning the European championship.” It turned out he was wrong, as the motorsport successes of the BMW 3.0 CSL impressively proved. Here the sports cars for the year 1973 were created: A 950kg-lightweight-2002 with a two-litre four-valve four-cylinder for rallying. The young company was soon able to move into its own quarters close to the main factory in Munich’s Preußenstraße. With him went a group of racing drivers who would leave their mark on BMW Motorsport over decades: Chris Amon, Toine Hezemans, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Dieter Quester.
Old beamer car driver#
Jochen Neerpasch, former works driver for Porsche and Head of Racing at Ford in Cologne before they moved to Munich, was signed as boss of the 35-person team of specialists.
