Iconic Cars - BMW M3

BMW’s M3 defied the turbo trend of the 1980s, with the normally-aspirated terrier producing some giant-killing performances across a six-year period in Group A.

The JPS Team BMWs are entrenched in Australian motorsport folklore for their stunning black and gold livery, but the performance of the M3 E30 version in 1987 is what makes it an iconic car.

The M3 had a lot to live up to when it made its racing debut at Calder Park in February 1987.

Its predecessor, the BMW 635 CSi, proved to be the car to beat under the Group A regulations and had won the title in the hands of Jim Richards in 1985.

The M3, though, would face stiff opposition in 1987 from turbocharged opponents in the Ford Sierra, also making its debut, and the Nissan Skyline DR30 RS, hitting its peak, not to mention the V8-powered Holden Commodore.

BMW opted for a high-revving 2.3-litre four-cylinder rather than a turbo, believing it would be a better fit for the circuits of Europe, producing an engine with more power than the 3.5-litre six-cylinder in the 635 CSi.

Five-thousand road-going versions of the M3 were built in order to be homologated for Group A racing. The end result was a sleek design, aerodynamically efficient front and rear spoilers, guards big enough to fit 10-inch wheels and lightweight panels.

Not all of the car’s characteristics suited racing in Australia, though. The use of a lightweight clutch and high first gear may have worked for the rolling starts of Europe but often saw Richards drop down the field off a standing start.

This would be the trend throughout the 1987 championship season: Richards would recover from slow starts and use the longevity of his Pirelli tyres to storm through the field.