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Welcome to the year of the M3

Only every 60 years does the Year of the Fire Horse return. Great for all those who believe in the Chinese horoscope. We, on the other hand, are focussing on blue and white horsepower: 40 years ago, the first BMW M3 rolled off the production line. This is celebrated. Including at the Tour de Corse Historique. A look back to the future.

David Marvier
David Marvier
  • Text
    Bernd Haase

Corsica, May 1987: it is hailing and snowing on the 1,191 metre high Col de la Vaccia. Uncomfortable. But the perfect weather for writing heroic stories. That's what Bernard Béguin does with his co-driver Jean-Jacques Lenne in his BMW M3 E30 modified for the World Rally Championship. Rear-wheel drive in these conditions? Plus the overpowering, all-wheel-drive Lancia Delta HF 4WD as an opponent? Not a chance. That's what Béguin thought. And won. First the stage. Then the 31st edition of the rally.

Corsica, October 2026 - whatever the weather, the BMW M3 E30 will once again play the leading role. 40 years after the first vehicle of its kind travelled the roads of the world, the Tour de Corse Historique is celebrating the legendary sports car from Bavaria. More than 40 BMW M3s were already at the start in 2025. This year there are likely to be even more. The rally runs over 1,000 kilometres across the island from 3 to 10 October. 380 kilometres of which are spread over 18 timed special stages on closed roads. A classic motorsport spectacle.

"You never get tired of watching it, because it's one of the most spectacular vehicles. And you never get tired of listening to it, because it's also one of the most melodic."
Rally organiser Marie-Ange Dini
©BMW
©BMW

The BMW M3 E30 was not designed for rally use at all, but for touring car racing. Which, by the way, the Munich-based company did wonderfully well. Between 1987 and 1992, a BMW M3 was the first to cross the finish line of the 24 Hours of Spa four times. In the DTM, it became the most successful racing car of all time. World champion in touring cars. Multiple wins in the European Championships: For five years, the M3 confidently led the international touring car racing scene.

Three men were responsible for the success at the Corsica Rally in 1987: British tuner David Richards, the President of BMW France, Jean Luc, and Bernard Béguin. They recognised the potential of the BMW M3 E30 for rally use and worked on the suspension geometry, the damping and the flexibility of the engine. Six months after the first test drives, the baptism of fire took place at the Tour de Corse - with success.

©Alchetron
©Alchetron
"From the very first tests in January 1987, I knew immediately that it was a good car. Winning the Tour de Corse in 1987 remains the greatest moment of my driving career."
Bernard Béguin

→ tourdecorse-historique.fr

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