BMW E30 M3 a racing legend

Sport Evolution (aka Evo III) model

Year 1986 has to be the sacrosanct year for the BMW aficionados as it marked the beginning of a legend that stood the test of time until the present day. The M3 badge makes its presence felt all thanks to Munich's racing aspiration. The venerable badge gestation was instigated by the E30 generation as a homologation special for entry to Touring Car racing, where it would lock horns with the likes of the W201 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3/16V in the DTM series.

Available either in 2-door coupe or convertible form, the E30 M3 was a star machinery, with notable accolades including winning the 1987 World Touring Car Championship drivers title, Top Sports Cars of the 1980s awarded by Sports Car International in 2004 and the "5 greatest drivers cars of all time" under Automobile Magazine 25 Greatest Cars of All Time. 

To keep the car competitive in racing and adapt to homologation rule changes, special editions model were produced. Due to the homologation rules roughly stating that the race version must reflect the road-going version, special editions model were rolled off the assembly line where the differences between standard M3 and special editions model include more power out of the stonking S14 engine, improved aerodynamics, lighter weight and bigger wheels. The special editions model were christened Evo II and Evo III (Sport Evolution).

 

It all started with the Evo II available in 1988. The latter retained the 2.3 litre S14 naturally aspirated 4 pot from the standard M3, albeit with a bump in power from 197 hp to 217 hp thanks to higher compression ratio, revised intake camshaft profile and improved exhaust camshaft timing. The wheels had also grown in size (16 x 7.5 inches), weight had been shed off thanks to lighter bootlid, and front splitter and rear spoiler took care of the aero department. Only 500 Evo II models were available.

                                                            S14 Evo III Screamer

In 1990, the more potent Evo III, or Sport Evolution, hit the scene with a larger 2.5 litre S14 4 pot which boosted output from 217 hp to 235 hp with higher lift intake and exhaust camshaft fitted.

Adjustable front splitter and rear wing were fitted and the front foglights had been replaced by brake ducts. Only 600 examples were made.

Thanks to the special editions model, the E30 M3 gained entry to the Touring Car racing and performed impeccably. The car had to its name 2 European Touring Car Championship titles, 2 British Touring Car Championship titles, 4 Italia Superturismo Championship titles and 2 DTM titles.

Apart from Touring Car racing, the E30 M3 also partook in rally racing, clinching victory in the 1987 Tour de Corse driven by Bernard Beguin and the 1990 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship driven by Bertie Fisher.

Given the number of accolades in the bag, the E30 M3 has to be among the most competitive racing machine to have ever graced a race track.