The BMW M1 is historic for its successes and for its failures. The ultimate manufacturing automobile and subsequent race automobiles weren’t what BMW initially supposed and but immediately, they’re amongst among the most beloved by followers. Throughout our time at BMW’s 2023 Take a look at Fest occasion, we had the prospect to hop within the passenger seat of a 1981 M1 IMSA race automobile and luxuriate in some full-throttle laps. It was not a disappointment.

The M1 in any type is extremely uncommon. BMW initially had large racing plans that included F1, Lamborghini, and an enormous V8 engine. Whereas none of that basically got here to fruition, the automobile that did lastly make it to manufacturing nonetheless ended up being an icon. This race automobile, a 1981 M1 IMSA Group 4 endurance machine, is a results of every part that went proper and unsuitable throughout growth.

Particularly, this automobile raced on the 24 Hours of Daytona in the course of the 1981 season. It encompasses a 24-valve 3.5-liter inline-six engine with roughly 490 hp (365 kW). It sends that energy to the rear wheels solely by way of a five-speed handbook gearbox constructed by ZF. In accordance with BMW, it weighs simply 2,866 kilos ( kg). After all, add within the driver and myself and it’s a number of hundred kilos extra.

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Curiously, this trip nearly didn’t occur. BMW instructed me particularly, a man who stands at six-foot-six, that I wouldn’t match, and initially, upon trying to, I wasn’t so certain both. The footwell is extremely tight and requires one to shift their toes far towards the surface of the cabin.

The roof is clearly fairly low so I needed to pull out some contortionist tips to fold into the M1. However, I made it work regardless of not technically being totally seated with my again in opposition to the backrest itself.

Of the 4 race automobiles that BMW introduced, the M1 was by far the most well-liked so rides had been brief however on the similar time, they had been oh-so candy. Sit again, flip your audio system up, and benefit from the sights and sounds of a traditional BMW M1 race automobile going full throttle at BMW Efficiency Heart.