VIN: the works / Tony Garcia BMW M1 Procar chassis 4301027
History of chassis 4301027
Chassis 4301027 was the fifth M1 Procar completed. It followed a brace of prototypes and two production examples.
4301027 was signed off on May 9th 1979 and retained by BMW Motorsport for use in the inaugural Procar series. During the course of that season it was driven by a host of Formula 1 drivers.
Reigning F1 champion, Mario Andretti, used chassis 4301027 on its debut at Zolder and thereafter twice more (at Donington and Monza). Unfortunately, the Lotus team leader failed to finish at Zolder and Monza. His only sight of the chequered flag was at Donington where he crossed line in twelfth.
Tyrrell driver, Jean-Pierre Jarier, took the wheel for a one-off Procar appearance at Monaco and finished ninth.
Similarly, upcoming Brit, Tiff Needell (who would do two F1 races for Ensign in 1980), was installed for a single event. Needell finished ninth at Silverstone.
Like Andretti, Ligier’s Jacques Laffite drove 4301027 on three occasions in 1979. He scored the car’s best results, winning at Zeltweg and placing second at Zandvoort. Laffite also posted a DNF at Hockenheim.
Chassis 4301027 returned to contest the 1980 Procar season when the works cars were prepared by BS Fabrications in Luton. For 1980, the traditional BMW Motorsport livery was switched to a white and green colour scheme.
Following his impressive trio of appearances in the 1979 series, Jacques Laffite was invited back for an extended campaign in 1980.
Laffite did seven of the nine Procar events during 1980 and drove 4301027 on every occasion.
Unfortunately, he failed to repeat the success of 1979. In 1980, Laffite’s best result was a third at Zandvoort and a brace of fourths at Avus and Brands Hatch. Laffite ended up joint eighth in the final standings with 37 points.
Two other F1 drivers also appeared in 4301027 during the 1980 season: Tyrrell’s Derek Daly raced the car at Monaco (DNF) and Arrows’ Riccardo Patrese drove in the season finale at Imola (ninth).
After the 1980 Procar Championship concluded, BMW had a surplus of cars, most of which were sold off to privateers.
Chassis 4301027 was purchased by amateur American driver, Tony Garcia.
Garcia bought the M1 to replace a faithful Porsche 911 Carrera RSR that he had raced extensively during 1979 and 1980. Like the 911, Garcia’s M1 was campaigned under the Montura Racing banner in a handsome dark blue livery with yellow, orange and red stripes.
Over the course of the next three years, Garcia raced 4301027 in IMSA and World Sportscar Championship events.
Garcia’s most successful season was 1981 when he ran half a dozen races and picked up four GTO class second places and a brace of fourths.
The highlights of 1982 were a class win at the Silverstone 6 Hours and an appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours (which ended with a DNF).
Garcia’s final campaign with 4301027 was in 1983 after which he upgraded to a Lola T600 and March 83G.
Notable History
BMW Motorsport
White with Blue and Red stripes
12/05/1979 PRO Zolder (M. Andretti) DNF (#1)
26/05/1979 PRO Monaco (J.P. Jarier) 9th oa (#4)
03/06/1979 PRO Donington (M. Andretti) 12th oa (#1)
13/07/1979 PRO Silverstone (T. Needell) 9th (#90)
28/07/1979 PRO Hockenheim (J. Laffite) DNF (#26)
12/08/1979 PRO Zeltweg (J. Laffite) 1st oa (#26)
26/08/1979 PRO Zandvoort (J. Laffite) 2nd oa (#26)
09/09/1979 PRO Monza (M. Andretti) DNF (#1)
BMW Motorsport (BS Fabrications)
White with Green stripes
26/04/1980 PRO Donington (J. Laffite) 12th oa (#26)
11/05/1980 PRO Avus (J. Laffite) 4th oa (#26)
17/05/1980 PRO Monaco (D. Daly) DNF (#4)
22/06/1980 PRO Norisring (J. Laffite) 7th oa (#26)
12/07/1980 PRO Brands Hatch (J. Laffite) 4th oa (#26)
09/08/1980 PRO Hockenheim (J. Laffite) 10th oa (#26)
16/08/1980 PRO Zeltweg (J. Laffite) DNF (#26)
31/08/1980 PRO Zandvoort (J. Laffite) 3rd oa (#26)
14/09/1980 PRO Imola (R. Patrese) 9th oa (#29)
Sold to Tony Garcia (Montura Racing), USA
Blue with Yellow, Orange and Red stripes
26/04/1981 IMS Riverside 6 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon / H. Cruz) 8th oa, 2nd GTO class (#54)
16/08/1981 WSC Mosport 6 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon / H. Cruz) 8th oa, 2nd GTO class (#54)
23/08/1981 WSC Road America 500 mile (T. Garcia / A. Naon / H. Cruz) 22nd oa, 4th GTO class (#54)
13/09/1981 IMS Road Atlanta 150 mile (T. Garcia) 8th oa, 4th GTO class (#54)
27/09/1981 IMS Pocono 500 mile (T. Garcia / A. Naon) 7th oa, 2nd GTO class (#54)
29/11/1981 IMS Daytona 250 mile Finale (T. Garcia) 9th oa, 2nd GTO class (#54)
31/01/1982 IMS Daytona 24 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon / R. McFarlin) DNF (#54)
20/03/1982 IMS Sebring 12 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon / F. Stiff) DNF (#54)
25/04/1982 IMS Riverside 6 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon / F. Stiff) DNF (#54)
16/05/1982 WSC Silverstone 6 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon) 18th oa, 1st GTO class (#85)
20/06/1982 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (T. Garcia / A. Naon / F. Stiff) DNF (#85)
26/09/1982 IMS Pocono 500 mile (T. Garcia / A. Montoya / G. Ullom) 5th oa, 2nd GTO class (#54)
White with Yellow, Blue & Red stripes
06/02/1983 IMS Daytona 24 Hours (T. Garcia / D. Montoya / T. Herman) DNF (#55)
27/02/1983 IMS Miami 100km (T. Garcia) DNF (#54)
10/04/1983 IMS Road Atlanta 500km (T. Garcia / D. Montoya) DNF (#55)
24/04/1983 IMS Riverside 6 Hours (T. Garcia / D. Montoya) 13th oa, 4th GTO class (#55)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: BMW - https://www.bmw.com
