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BMW-March M1 - the Group 5 beast that never really woke up

Name: BMW March M1 1979
Brand: BMW

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Created on April 9, 2018

Text:

Balz Schreier

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Jan Bot

David Bridgeman

Chuck Ritz

Andreas Perf (via Marc Dürscheidt)

Balz Schreier

Benny Floyd (via Marc Dürscheidt)

Chris Robinson

Jan Hettler

Dennis Börner (via Jan Bot)

Pete Summers / Courtesy of Goodwood

Jeremy Jackson

Sergio Febbraro

Daniel Matschull

Fred Lewis

Daniel Reinhard

Jan Bot

David Bridgeman

Chuck Ritz

Andreas Perf (via Marc Dürscheidt)

Balz Schreier

Benny Floyd (via Marc Dürscheidt)

Chris Robinson

Jan Hettler

Dennis Börner (via Jan Bot)

Pete Summers / Courtesy of Goodwood

Jeremy Jackson

Sergio Febbraro

Daniel Matschull

Fred Lewis

89 1

BMW-March M1 (1980) chassis 003 from Botspeed / Jan Bot at the Goodwood Members' Meeting 2018

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BMW March M1 (1979) - Chassis 001 at the IAA 1979

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BMW-March M1 (1979) - Factory March M1 with chassis number 002 driven by Manfred Winkelhock at Brands Hatch 1979

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BMW March M1 (1979) - Manfred Winkelhock in the factory March M1 with chassis number 002 at Brands Hatch 1979

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BMW March M1 (1979) - Chassis 002 on the left in September 1979 in Vallelunga with new Marlboro paintwork, on the right the unfinished vehicle (chassis 003)

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BMW March M1 (1979) - On the right chassis 002 in September 1979 in Vallelunga with new Marlboro livery, people from the left are Bob George (truck driver), Gordon Message (chief mechanic) and Ralph Parker (manufacturer), on the left March-M1 chassis 003 (not yet finished)

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BMW-March M1 (1979) - Chassis 002 in September 1979 in Vallelunga with new Marlboro paintwork

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BMW March M1 (1980) - The March Engineering works car with chassis 002 at the 1980 24 Hours of Daytona and drivers Michael Korten, Patrick Neve, Ian Grob

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BMW March M1 (1980) - The car with chassis 003 of Jim Busby at the 24 Hours of Daytona 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Jim Busby (Chassis 003) at the 24 Hours of Daytona on February 3, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - The crew of Jim Busby (Chassis 003) at the 24 Hours of Daytona on February 3, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Jim Busby (Chassis 003) at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 22, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Jim Busby (Chassis 003) and Rick Knoop at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 22, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Bruce Jenner at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 22, 1980

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Jim Busby BMW-March M1 (Chassis 003), Road Atlanta April 13, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - The car with chassis 003 by Jim Busby, Road Atlanta April 13, 1980

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Jim Busby was still on slicks when drizzle set in at Road Atlanta and his BMW March M1 (chassis 003) skidded in the first corner - Road Atlanta April 13, 1980

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Jim Busby heavily modified the BMW March M1 (1980) for the 5-hour race at Riverside on April 27, 1980 - giving the front end a completely new look

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Jim Busby (Chassis 003) at the Riverside 5-hour race on April 27, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Jim Busby's last race in the March M1 (chassis 003) at the 5 Hours of Riverside on April 27, 1980

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BMW March M1 (1980) - Jim Busby (Chassis 003) at Laguna Seca 1980, did not start

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BMW March M1 (1982) - Chassis 003 was slightly modified by Bob Gregg in 1982 (different rear window, very high rear spoiler)

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BMW March M1 (1982) - Chassis 003 was slightly modified by Bob Gregg in 1982 (different rear window, very high rear spoiler), the other front was already modified by Jim Busby

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BMW March M1 (1980) - factory chassis 004, was never used at the time, was bought by Jan Bot in 2008

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Rare photo of a BMW M1 with March bodywork (chassis #T400-HU8), hiding a Lola T400 underneath, driven by Mick Hill - Donington Park, August 1984

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Alfa Romeo GTV6 (1983) followed by the BMW-March M1 - Bosch Hockenheim Historic 2013 - Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge (YTCC)

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BMW March M1 IMSA (1979) - Bosch Hockenheim Historic 2013 - Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge (YTCC)

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BMW March M1 IMSA (1979) - Hockenheim Historic 2017 - Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge YTCC (UPS4ALL and Autopassion)

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Father and son Jan Bot with their BMW-March M1 (1980) Chassis 003 at the Goodwood Members' Meeting 2018

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BMW March M1 (1979) - Chassis 003 by Jan Bot at the Goodwood Members' Meeting 2018

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BMW-March M1 - Snow-covered racing cars at the Goodwood Members' Meeting 2018

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BMW March M1 (1979) - Chassis 003 by Jan Bot after the Goodwood Members' Meeting 2018

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BMW March M1 Replica (2010) - This is where the replica of Marc Dürscheidt's March M1 was created

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BMW March M1 Replica (2010) - Marc Dürscheidt in his perfectly replicated March M1 replica

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Summary

Only four chassis numbers of this racing car are known, two of which raced, one of which has survived to this day. We met the racing car and owner at Goodwood and report on this motorsport rarity with almost 90 photos.

This article contains the following chapters

Debut in 1979 at Le Mans and at the IAA
1980 also at the start in the USA
Heart transplant - the turbo never came
From Bob Gregg to Jan Bot
2018 at Goodwood
Marc Dürscheidt's replica with factory bodywork from chassis 002
An overview of all BMW March M1 chassis produced
All races with BMW-March M1 at a glance

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Although the BMW M1 is rare in itself, few people know about the even rarer M1 ever produced. The development began out of necessity: BMW was very successful in motorsport in the 1970s with the 3.0 CSLs. But when Porsche entered the fray with the fire-breathing 935, a rival was quickly needed. The scene was eager to see which racing car BMW would conjure out of its basket and was all the more surprised when BMW announced that the new Group 5 car would come from March. Chief designer Robin Herd was responsible for the project to transform the M1 into a Group 5 car. The contract was outsourced because BMW did not want to spend too much money and effort. As a result, BMW itself was responsible for the engine, while March took care of the rest.

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