The return of two legends: BMW Group Classic lines up with the BMW M3 and BMW M1 Procar at DTM events.

Munich (DE), 5th March 2013. When the DTM season gets underway in Hockenheim (DE) on 5th May 2013, the eight BMW M3 DTMs in the starting line-up will not be the only BMW racing cars thrilling fans on the track.

In 2013, BMW Group Classic will send the historic BMW M3 from the 1987 season and the legendary BMW M1 Procar into action as race taxis at each of the ten events on the DTM calendar. With experienced motorsport professionals at the wheel, selected visitors will be able to experience the fascination of a DTM race at close hand.

Jens Marquardt is one of those who can’t wait to see the racing legends back in action. “BMW Motorsport has a unique heritage in production car racing,” said the BMW Motorsport Director. “Last year we were frequently treated to the sight of legendary BMW racing cars from past decades during DTM weekends. And each time the reaction of the fans and our guests was overwhelming. This year we want to give them something really special by sending out classic ‘race taxis’ as part of the DTM support programme. Fans of a leading race series will be able to feast their eyes on cars like the BMW M3 from 1987 and the legendary BMW M1 Procar on a regular basis once again. And we’ll also be inviting one or two drivers from that era of racing to step back into the cockpit as ‘taxi drivers’. We’re looking forward to seeing the faces of fans, partners, customers and sponsors light up – and are in no doubt that the BMW Group Classic ‘race taxis’ will add even greater appeal to this year’s DTM season.”

The 1987 BMW M3 is the ancestor and role model for the current title holder, the BMW M3 DTM. It was with this model that Eric van de Poele (BE) won the title in the DTM in BMW’s first season in the series – a feat that Bruno Spengler (CA) was able to repeat in style 25 years later with the current car.

The BMW M1 will also stir up memories of spectacular racing success enjoyed by the manufacturer. The race taxi will be the 470bhp car, with which Nelson Piquet (BR) lined up in the specially created Procar series in 1980. Three years later, Piquet was crowned Formula One World Champion in a Brabham BMW.

The race taxi rides will take place on all ten of the 2013 season’s DTM weekends. The racetrack will provide the stage for the return of the two legends between practice and qualifying on Saturday, and before the race on Sunday.

The illustrious racing drivers signed up by BMW Group Classic for the job at hand are already feeling the excitement ahead of their appearance in these icons of BMW motor sport history. Only the current BMW Motorsport team members cannot be considered for the “race taxi” driver role, the DTM regulations ruling that the extra experience of the track would give them an unfair competitive advantage.