BMW M3 Touring Racer Becomes Reality: To Compete in Nürburgring 24-Hour Race

Last April Fools' Day, BMW jokingly unveiled the M3 Touring GT race car—and to everyone's surprise, the enthusiastic public response actually spurred the company to move forward with real development. Based on the M4 GT3 EVO, this race car features a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing a maximum output of 590 horsepower and sports a wagon body made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. BMW had been contemplating a racing version ever since launching the M3 Touring road car in 2022. The "April Fools'" reveal on April 1, 2025, was in fact a meticulously crafted rendering. Due to overwhelming fan demand, the project received official approval in August that same year and entered development in September, completing full vehicle validation in just eight months. The car will compete in the SPX class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race this May and will embark on a post-race exhibition tour.