No.: 23854 Nürburgring
... just under 60 km from my desk and the epitome of German auto racing. This particular BMW M1 was not entered in the Procar series, but instead competed in the 1,000-km race at the Nürburgring. In 1980, Nelson Piquet and Hans-Joachim Stuck drove this car to a class victory and a third-place finish overall in the 1,000-km race on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife. Due to its track layout—featuring many spectacular turns—and its length of more than 20 km, the Nürburgring quickly earned the nickname “Green Hell” among race car drivers. The curves and sections of the track are reflected in the design of the M1. After Niki Lauda’s horrific crash in his Ferrari 312T in 1976, it became increasingly difficult to attract major races to the Nürburgring. Officially, the reasons were the long and difficult access routes. However, the needs of advertisers and television viewers should not be overlooked either; people want to see “their” car more often, which shorter circuits naturally allow for more easily. When the crisis came to a head in 1980—primarily concerning government subsidies—the “Yes to the Nürburgring” initiative was founded.
In 2005, 2008, and 2012, BMWs with similar paint schemes and the message “Yes to the Nürburgring” competed in races on the Nordschleife, such as the VLN 24-hour race.
The original car, restored by BMW, is owned by a Japanese collector, and the 1:24 scale model on my slot car track at home… what more could you ask for?
The BMW M1 Procar Series took place in 1979 and 1980 as part of the supporting program for Formula 1 events. Races were approximately one-third the distance of an F1 race and took place on Saturday after F1 practice. The motto “all drivers in identical cars” was intended to give drivers the chance to test their skills regardless of the equipment. Many Formula 1 drivers also competed in Procar races at the same time—something that would be virtually impossible today due to marketing and safety concerns. The season champion received the road-going version of the M1 as a prize.
CoMod JoergW
