Overview of the Article
- The BMW M3 Touring 24H is scheduled to participate in the SPX class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours event in May 2026.
- This vehicle is based on the M4 GT3 EVO and boasts a new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic shell featuring faux rear doors.
- The development phase lasted eight months.
Recently, BMW dropped hints about a new racing vehicle, and my mind immediately wandered to an M3 wagon, even though it appeared to be a far-fetched idea. Nonetheless, the Motorsport team transformed this vision into reality. Presenting the exceptional M3 Touring 24H, crafted for the racetrack, not for display.
This model follows last year's M3 Touring GT3 EVO, which was just an April Fools’ prank. This time, it's the real deal. As its name suggests, it will compete in this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Many may fondly remember sporty wagons such as the Volvo 850 from the 1990s British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and it’s exciting to see this idea brought back to life.
Utilizing the M4 GT3 EVO as a base facilitated faster development. However, a new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) structure was essential, which featured new windows and imitation rear doors, as these do not serve a functional purpose. The front doors have been shortened, and the rear wing has been lengthened for improved aerodynamics consistent with the wagon format.
At its heart, the M3 Touring 24H is powered by the P58 racing engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six generating up to 590 horsepower and 700 Newton-meters (516 pound-feet) of torque. The power is transmitted to the rear wheels through an X-trac six-speed sequential transmission, akin to the M4 GT3 EVO. While the M4 street version comes with a rear-wheel-drive option, the road-legal M3 Touring is strictly all-wheel drive, with a two-wheel-drive variant restricted to racing purposes only.
Designed by BMW M Motorsport in a swift eight-month timeframe, the M3 Touring 24H is based on the M4 GT3 EVO but measures 200 millimeters (almost 8 inches) longer and 32 mm (1.2 in) taller due to its wagon form. Other than these measurements, the cars are identical, making this super wagon a true GT3-spec competitor. Development initiated in September 2025, after receiving management’s nod for the project.
The testing phase for the race car commenced last month. It is set to make its initial track appearance next weekend during the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). The 24-hour endurance event is planned for May 16–17, featuring four BMW M drivers—Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen—taking turns driving.
The M3 Touring will be entered by Schubert Motorsport, which is also in charge of the #77 M4 GT3 EVO. The two vehicles will not race against each other directly, as the wagon will enter the SPX category while the coupe competes in the SP9 category.
Overview of the Article
- The BMW M3 Touring 24H is scheduled to participate in the SPX class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours event in May 2026.
- This vehicle is based on the M4 GT3 EVO and boasts a new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic shell featuring faux rear doors.
- The development phase lasted eight months.
Recently, BMW dropped hints about a new racing vehicle, and my mind immediately wandered to an M3 wagon, even though it appeared to be a far-fetched idea. Nonetheless, the Motorsport team transformed this vision into reality. Presenting the exceptional M3 Touring 24H, crafted for the racetrack, not for display.
This model follows last year’s M3 Touring GT3 EVO, which was just an April Fools’ prank. This time, it’s the real deal. As its name suggests, it will compete in this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Many may fondly remember sporty wagons such as the Volvo 850 from the 1990s British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and it’s exciting to see this idea brought back to life.
Utilizing the M4 GT3 EVO as a base facilitated faster development. However, a new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) structure was essential, which featured new windows and imitation rear doors, as these do not serve a functional purpose. The front doors have been shortened, and the rear wing has been lengthened for improved aerodynamics consistent with the wagon format.
At its heart, the M3 Touring 24H is powered by the P58 racing engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six generating up to 590 horsepower and 700 Newton-meters (516 pound-feet) of torque. The power is transmitted to the rear wheels through an X-trac six-speed sequential transmission, akin to the M4 GT3 EVO. While the M4 street version comes with a rear-wheel-drive option, the road-legal M3 Touring is strictly all-wheel drive, with a two-wheel-drive variant restricted to racing purposes only.
Designed by BMW M Motorsport in a swift eight-month timeframe, the M3 Touring 24H is based on the M4 GT3 EVO but measures 200 millimeters (almost 8 inches) longer and 32 mm (1.2 in) taller due to its wagon form. Other than these measurements, the cars are identical, making this super wagon a true GT3-spec competitor. Development initiated in September 2025, after receiving management’s nod for the project.
The testing phase for the race car commenced last month. It is set to make its initial track appearance next weekend during the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). The 24-hour endurance event is planned for May 16–17, featuring four BMW M drivers—Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen—taking turns driving.
The M3 Touring will be entered by Schubert Motorsport, which is also in charge of the #77 M4 GT3 EVO. The two vehicles will not race against each other directly, as the wagon will enter the SPX category while the coupe competes in the SP9 category.
