BMW M
The BMW M GmbH is a 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH formed subsidiary of car manufacturer BMW. It is responsible for the development and production of high-performance BMW M automobiles, the individualization of all BMW models (BMW Individual), and the organization of the BMW Driver Training.
History
One of the first results of the M GmbH was built with substantial help from Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL. This significantly facilitated model of the BMW E9 was a successful first step.
Based on the 1972 BMW Turbo prototype developed by BMW Munich automobile manufacturer then wanted to produce a sports car, which was designed primarily for participation in motorsport events. At this time Italian sports cars dominated the racing, it was decided at first BMW to use the know -how of the Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini and let develop the model there. However, shortly afterwards led industrial disagreements to rethink. BMW made the decision to completely build the vehicle on their own, and then founded in 1972, the BMW Motorsport GmbH.
Jochen Neerpasch conducted from 1973 to 1979 as Chairman of the Board, the BMW Motorsport GmbH. Racing colleague Martin Braungart, who started together with Jochen Neerpasch in the BMW Motorsport GmbH in the spring of 1972 was, from 1972 to 1979 Technical Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH and from 1977 to 1979 as a project manager responsible for the overall development of the road vehicle BMW M1, which for the base vehicle future racing activities was provided.
1992 BMW Individual Business Group was integrated into the BMW Motorsport GmbH and in 1993 was renamed the company in BMW M GmbH, a company for individual automobiles.
Motorsport
Even during the development of the new racing car, which should get the name of M1 later modified the M GmbH Series cars for motorsport use. As early as 1972 model BMW was rebuilt in 2002 for use at rallies. The breakthrough came a year later, as the factory driver Hans -Joachim Stuck and Chris Amon won a BMW 3.0 CSL, the grand prize of touring car at the Nürburgring. In the Touring Car class of the 24 -hour Le Mans race the winner was also named shortly afterwards BMW. With a total of six European championship titles was the 3.0 CSL of the most successful touring cars of the 1970s. The cars were used, along with the factory team of Alpina, Schnitzer, Koepchen or GS- tuning.
1978 then saw the first independent racing cars of the M GmbH, the Light of the World. Originally, the M1 for use in the German Racing Championship was planned. But since it came to the above delays the development, a shareholding in this series was no longer possible. In collaboration with Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley shortly after the Procar Series was established, which took place 1 race ahead of many formula and was only equipped with M1 - race versions. As a racing commitment, but was only possible for vehicles in series production, produced and sold the M GmbH around 450 pieces a stripped- road version.
As of 1980, the M GmbH developed engines for use in Formula 1 in 1982 debuted the BMW M12/13 turbocharged engine in a Brabham Formula 1 racing car. Already in the Formula 1 1983 season BMW succeeded with the British team and the driver Nelson Piquet, the first Formula 1 World Championship title with a turbo engine.
To this day, vehicles from the BMW M GmbH in the world are successful in motorsport in use. Even the most successful touring cars of the past racing history comes from Munich, the BMW M3.
BMW Art Cars
Main article: BMW Art Car
The idea to make cars from renowned artists, had the French auctioneer and racing driver Hervé Poulain. Due to his initiative Alexander Calder painted in 1975 a race car BMW 3.0 CSL. A year later designed the New York artist Frank Stella a BMW with his typical grid pattern. These two vehicles took part in the 24 - hour race at Le Mans in 1975 and 1976. Also appeared in Le Mans later designed BMW Art Car by Roy Lichtenstein (1977 ), Andy Warhol (1979) and Jenny Holzer ( 1999).
More cars were designed by AR Penck, Robert Rauschenberg, Ernst Fuchs, Ken Done, Michael Nelson Jakamarra, Matazo Kayama, César Manrique, Esther Mahlangu, Sandro Chia and David Hockney.
In 2010, Jeff Koons designed for the BMW Art Car so far last, a BMW M3 GT2. This car took part with drivers Dirk Müller, Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner at the 24 - hour race at Le Mans.