{"id":433623,"date":"2026-05-18T16:49:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/433623\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:49:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:49:23","slug":"bmw-hints-at-future-plans-for-april-fools-m3-touring-24h-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/433623\/","title":{"rendered":"BMW hints at future plans for April Fool’s M3 Touring 24H project"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"BMW
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBMW’s M3 Touring 24H finished an impressive fifth position outright at the Nurburgring 24 Hour. Image: BMW<\/p>\n

The car stunned at the Nurburgring with first in its class and fifth outright, which led BMW to hint at future appearances for the car.<\/p>\n

BMW M Motorsport had declared a top 10 result to be a dream outcome for the M3 Touring prior to the race.<\/p>\n

Run by Schubert Motorsport, the driver line-up of Jens Klingmann, Connor De Phillippi, Ugo de Wilde, and Neil Verhagen quickly established the car as a contender in the lead group.<\/p>\n

At times, an overall podium finish was in sight, the quartet settled for fifth place, one spot behind the leading outright BMW entry from Rowe Racing.<\/p>\n

Originating from an April Fool\u2019s joke in 2025, overwhelming positivity from fans led BMW to build the car in just eight months.<\/a><\/p>\n

BMW stated its goal was not to create a showpiece, but a car capable of competing at a GT3 level.<\/p>\n

Following the Nurburgring success, BMW said that \u201cthe car will appear at selected events in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team WRT\u2019s BMW entries have been front-runners in recent years at the Bathurst 12 Hour; whether the Touring project is slated to appear in Australia remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

The car could conceivably compete in the invitational class, should plans hatch for the car to venture Down Under.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, congratulations to everyone at Team Schubert, ROWE Racing, and BMW M Motorsport for their great effort,\u201d said Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 24 Hours is always very tough, but we had an intensive preparation and, as a result, a great race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt became clear to us relatively quickly that, unfortunately, we didn\u2019t have the speed this year to fight at the very front.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat makes the result all the more satisfying \u2013 three out of four cars finished in the top ten.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur BMW M3 Touring 24H even made it to fifth place. The best car, the #99, finished fourth \u2013 just missing the podium, but that\u2019s how it goes sometimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can take away many positives, especially that our Touring project was certainly one of the big fan favourites here at the Ring.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe car definitely showed that it is a serious competitor and can run at the front.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klingmann described the sense of pride in the top five result, and noted the team feels \u201coverjoyed\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 24-hour race at the Nurburgring was the big highlight and the climax of our BMW M3 Touring 24H project,\u201d said Klingmann.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can all be extremely proud, every single person involved and also the brand, that we got the project started and then finished it successfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw that the car was not just an April Fool\u2019s joke in the end, but a competitive vehicle that was consistently in the top five.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccordingly, I am very proud of the whole team and BMW M Motorsport. We are very happy with the result \u2013 a top ten would have been a dream, and it turned into a top five finish.\u201d<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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