BMW engined sportscars!!

[Alfie72]

I am wating for the "Precision" police to jump on me for posting this, because it's neither an E28 nor is it Group A.

But its a good excused to bring Rad Dougall, Tom Walkinshaw and Ted Toleman into the conversation again with a photo of a lovely looking car - and of course it had a 2 litre BMW engine so those are my excuses

[Jesper OH]

..only that Dieter Quester replaced Toleman for this 1978 race, if I'm correct. The team also entered a 3.0 CSL, that was a no show.

Jesper

[Alfie72]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

..only that Dieter Quester replaced Toleman for this 1978 race, if I'm correct. The team also entered a 3.0 CSL, that was a no show.

Jesper

Jesper - spot on. Toleman got out of the car during practice and acknowledged that it was all a bit above his skill level and so they drafted DQ in to replace him.

The car didn't last long however, I do have the timesheets somewhere, but I can't put my hands on them. That's why I was so relieved to find the photo.

[Al Weyman]

This car also had a BMW unit fitted, I know as I helped install it!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Alfie72

I am wating for the "Precision" police to jump on me for posting this, because it's neither an E28 nor is it Group A.

But its a good excused to bring Rad Dougall, Tom Walkinshaw and Ted Toleman into the conversation again with a photo of a lovely looking car - and of course it had a 2 litre BMW engine so those are my excuses

You said it Alfie!!!

Sorry guys I am obviously going to state the obvious but those last few posts were so off topic I decided to move them and start a BMW engined sportscar thread for you to carry on instead!!!!

[John Turner]

Yes, an excellent subject in its own right. Let's see some more!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Yes, an excellent subject in its own right. Let's see some more!

Ah John, I detect this could be a favourite subject of yours? (the make of car in your avatar might be a hint!!)

Well folks how many Bimmer engined sportsracers were built? Must be hundreds if not thousands!!

I can think of a fair few in more recent historical times like Saubers and Osellas that competed in the latter days Group 6 and the early days of Group C, but then I'm also sure there were loads in the 70's like Marches for example?

[Al Weyman]

Chevrons, I believe the Astra I showed previously was fitted with the BMW unit to challenge the all concouring Chevrons.

[chunterer]

Ahhh, of course!! That's right Al, I suppose Chevrons were the sportscar racers to have if you were going to employ Bee-em power for many years?

[SAMD]

And Crossle's - in the 60s. Still being used in the 9s

[SAMD]

I saw a youtube video of a mind bogglingly quick sports racer with a 3.0 BM engine being used in a hillclimb. Bergrennen or somesuch I think it came under.

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by John Robinson

Ah, I see now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f0p4Qu2qxc

This was it, and heaven help me if I dont still get goosebumps when I watch it.

[Alfie72]

Chunterer - no worries. At least you do it with a "smile" unlike some forums I could mention(?)

I'm gradually working through the pile of stuff I've just rescued from my late mother's house (how inconsiderate - where does she expect me to put everything now?!).

I've recently spotted a picture of Tony Dean at Cadwell breaking the outright lap record in his Crossle BMW so when I find it again, I'll pop it on.

[bigears]

I recall a Brun Racing Sehcar SH C6 BMW Turbo at the 1983 Nurburgring 100kms race.

There are some photos after its accident, I will have a look now..

EDIT>>FOund it.

[KA]

Wasn't the Sehcar Brun's modified version of a Sauber C6- usually raced with either a Cosworth DFL or a non-turbo BMW straight 6?
http://images.caradisiac.com/images/...er-C-95445.jpg

French privateer Roland Bassaler was still turning one of these out at Le Mans in the early 90's, although it had been much modified in it's later appearances- it still kept the BMW engine though...
http://www.sportscar-racing.thesaxby...k/sauberc6.jpg

1993:
http://www.racingsportscars.com/phot...-06-20-028.jpg

[Jesper OH]

Can't remember the exact story of the Sauber/Sehcar, but I think Sehcar & Hoffmann fabricated the bodywork while Sauber did the chassis. I will have to look this one up.

Jesper

[Jesper OH]

http://forums.autosport.com/index.ph...=sauber+sehcar

Post #8 pretty much explains the Sauber/Sehcar story, so not much point of retelling it here.

During the group C period the BMW M88 engine saw a lot of usage, usually in the CJ/C2 catagory, but there were a few anomalies. Gebhardt used a straight four 2 litre engine of presumed Formula 2 heritage. I guess it had good fuel milage, but lacked in speed.
The BMW engine in the Nykjaer (Nykjær) of 1985 used a straight six of CSL heritage. Strange, as Nykjær for a decade up till then used to stuff Porsche flat sixes into Volkswagen Beetles and regular 911s and co-driver and -sponsor Holger Knudsen (Kjellerup Autolager) was a GM-man.

Jesper

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

http://forums.autosport.com/index.ph...=sauber+sehcar

Post #8 pretty much explains the Sauber/Sehcar story, so not much point of retelling it here.

During the group C period the BMW M88 engine saw a lot of usage, usually in the CJ/C2 catagory, but there were a few anomalies. Gebhardt used a straight four 2 litre engine of presumed Formula 2 heritage. I guess it had good fuel milage, but lacked in speed.
The BMW engine in the Nykjaer (Nykjær) of 1985 used a straight six of CSL heritage. Strange, as Nykjær for a decade up till then used to stuff Porsche flat sixes into Volkswagen Beetles and regular 911s and co-driver and -sponsor Holger Knudsen (Kjellerup Autolager) was a GM-man.

Jesper

Thanks Jesper

I'm trying to think of the other BMW-powered Group C/C2 cars apart from the aforementioned Sauber/Sehcar, Gebhardts and Nykjaer

URD C81/C83- Mainly seen in the early years of Group C, up to about 1984. Occasionally Porsche-engined, but usually a BMW M88 straight-6.
Danish ex-BMW M1 runner Jens Winther campaigned his Castrol-sponsored car through 1984-6, and the 'factory' team came back in '87
http://www.racingsportscars.com/make/photo/URD.html

ALD- Louis Descartes' outfit were perennial C2 tailenders with their M88-engined cars from about 1985. Dabbled briefly with an Audi turbo, but moved to Cosworths by 1989. Also entered by Didier Bonnet, IIRC sometimes 2/3 cars appearing on entry lists by 1989. http://i38.tinypic.com/346rksm.jpg

Sthemo- 1983/4- From memory, originally used a BMW 4-cylinder of an odd 2.2 litre capacity, but later an M88. Think it was based on a TOJ chassis (similar to the Nykjaer?)
http://www.les24heures.fr/24hphotoar...64sthemo-2.jpg

Isolia- Entered by Jean-Claude Ferrarin. Did this use a 6 or 4-cylinder (M12?) engine? Appeared infrequently around 1985/6, Cosworth-powered in later races IIRC. Chevron based, using the same bodywork design that appeared on the Sthemo (and also Jose Thibault's infamous Chevron-ROC...)
http://i66.servimg.com/u/f66/11/46/01/93/isolia10.jpg

[KA]

A few more...

Lola- Harald Becker ran a Lola T600 with a BMW turbo engine (1.6 litre I think?) Was still appearing in Interserie races into the early 90s- the white pic is one I took at a Brands Hatch BTCC & Interserie meeting in 1990
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1042/...bd91416ffd.jpg
http://www.racingsportscars.com/phot...-06-26-058.jpg

Maurer C87- Don't recall much about this one- think it did appear in a couple of World Championship rounds as well as local Supercup, Interserie etc races in Germany?
http://www.racingsportscars.com/phot...-06-26-073.jpg

Sturtz. Another one that's a bit of a mystery to me- I know I've heard of Peter Sturtz's BMW turbo-engined car, but can't remember much about it
http://www.racingsportscars.com/phot...-06-25-071.jpg

...and then there's the Wagner- based on a single-seater chassis I think, it turned up in German Supercup races in the late 80's. Frankly, words fail me on this one.... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/...a6d932f753.jpg


I'm sure there were more though...and then there are the various BMW-powered IMSA cars. BMW's biggest sportscar involvement during the Group C period was the factory-backed March-BMW IMSA programme- from memory, the car was fast but fragile (and tended to catch fire a lot...)
http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-co...arch-gtp-2.jpg

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by KA

....and then there's the Wagner- based on a single-seater chassis I think, it turned up in German Supercup races in the late 80's. Frankly, words fail me on this one.... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/...a6d932f753.jpg

Oh dear......

Looks like an 'unfinished' C100!!!

[fausto]

Don't forget the Lotec M1C, 3.5 straight six engined

[stuart thompson]

I remember that URD chassis were in the WSPC up till 87 when I was at the Brands 1000k it crashed at paddock around mid distance. ALD were running a pair of similar 3.5 engined cars also. Ithink ALD ran a solo BMW 3.5 engined car into 88.

[stuart thompson]

The Nurburgring museum have a March built BMW M1 twin turbo on display.

[stuart thompson]

[QUOTE=KA;2690307]Thanks Jesper


URD C81/C83- Mainly seen in the early years of Group C, up to about 1984. Occasionally Porsche-engined, but usually a BMW M88 straight-6.
Danish ex-BMW M1 runner Jens Winther campaigned his Castrol-sponsored car through 1984-6, and the 'factory' team came back in '87
http://www.racingsportscars.com/make/photo/URD.html

Ah, thats where I remember the name Helmut Mundas from.

[Jesper OH]

The factory URD even made it to the States by 1988, running in at least the combined IMSA/Group C race in Tampa, Florida.

The Jens Winther URD was finally sold about 18 months ago and re-appeared on the track for the Copenhagen Classic Car GP last summer, running in the Le Mans exhibition race with Winther himself now guest driving his former car.

Jesper