VIN: the Project Four Racing / Steve O'Rourke BMW M1 Procar chassis 4301028
History of chassis 4301028
Chassis 4301028 was the M1 Procar raced by Niki Lauda for Project Four Racing.
Project Four was the British team founded in 1976 by ex-Brabham mechanic and entrepreneur, Ron Dennis.
In addition to campaigning BMW-powered Ralt and March F2 cars during the late 1970s, Project Four also helped the Munich firm with assembly and preparation of M1 Procars.
After winning his second F1 Driver’s Championship for Ferrari, Niki Lauda had signed a $1m a year contract with Brabham for the 1978 and 1979 seasons. As one of the few teams not tied to a tobacco manufacturer (Brabham’s sponsor was dairy food producer, Parmalat), Lauda was free to appear in the F1-supporting Procar series with Marlboro-backed Project Four.
Lauda contested all eight Procar races during 1979.
Wins at Monaco, Silverstone and Hockenheim plus a second place finish at Monza meant he finished the season as champion on 78 points. Hans-Joachim Stuck was second on 73 points and Clay Regazzoni finished third with 61.
Three weeks after the final Procar race at Monza, Lauda famously quit F1 during practice for the Canadian Grand Prix. He later returned for the 1982 season when McLaren paid him an unprecedented $3m a season.
Meanwhile, 4301028 had rounded out 1979 with an appearance at the non-championship Kyalami 1000km race where John Watson and Jochen Mass finished fourth overall and third in class.
Project Four retained chassis 4301028 for the 1980 Procar season. 1979 runner up Stuck was brought in to drive the car which variously appeared with backing from IBEC, Valvoline and Liqui Moly.
Stuck took a brace of wins (at Monaco and the Norisring) but subsequently defected to the GS Tuning team for the final three races.
Nelson Piquet won the 1980 Procar series with 90 points, Alan Jones was second on 77 and Stuck placed third with 71.
At the end of 1980, Ron Dennis took control of the floundering McLaren Formula 1 team.
Now surplus to requirements, 4301028 was sold to Steve O’Rourke of EMKA Productions. O’Rourke was manager of Pink Floyd and an enthusiastic amateur racer.
For the 1981 season, 4301028 was converted to Group 5 specification by Michael Cane Racing. It was modified to incorporate a new spaceframe chassis complete with rollcage and aluminium floor. Bodywork was switched to a wider, heavily spoilered carbon-Kevlar shell. The revamped car was said to be 130kg lighter and considerably stiffer. Its 3.5-litre engine was kept standard.
1981 saw O’Rourke enter 1028 for half a dozen World Sportscar Championship events. Derek Bell was brought on board as number one driver.
Highlights included a second overall at the Silverstone 6 Hours and third overall at the Brands Hatch 1000km. 4301028 won its class on both occasions.
Only two races were contested in 1982 (Silverstone and Le Mans) for which O’Rourke was joined by Pink Floyd drummer, Nick Mason.
Afterwards, 4301028 was retired from active duty and later reconfigured to its original 1979 Procar trim.
Notable History
Ron Dennis / Project 4 Racing
White & Red Marlboro livery
12/05/1979 PRO Zolder (N. Lauda) DNF (#5)
26/05/1979 PRO Monaco (N. Lauda) 1st oa (#5)
24/06/1979 DRM Norisring (N. Lauda) DNF (#82)
24/06/1979 IND Norisring Trophy (N. Lauda) DNS (#82)
30/06/1979 PRO Dijon (N. Lauda) 8th oa (#5)
13/07/1979 PRO Silverstone (N. Lauda) 1st oa (#5)
28/07/1979 PRO Hockenheim (N. Lauda) 1st oa (#5)
12/08/1979 PRO Zeltweg (N. Lauda) DNF (#5)
26/08/1979 PRO Zandvoort (N. Lauda) DNF (#5)
09/09/1979 PRO Monza (N. Lauda) 2nd oa (#5)
30/11/1979 IND Kyalami 1000km (J. Watson / J. Mass) 4th oa, 3rd 1B class (#7)
White & Red Valvoline livery
26/04/1980 PRO Donington (H.J. Stuck) DNF (#40)
11/05/1980 PRO Avus (H.J. Stuck) 12th oa (#40)
17/05/1980 PRO Monaco (H.J. Stuck) 1st oa (#40)
22/06/1980 PRO Norisring (H.J. Stuck) 1st oa (#40)
12/07/1980 PRO Brands Hatch (H.J. Stuck) 7th oa (#40)
09/08/1980 PRO Hockenheim (H.J. Stuck) 3rd oa (#40)
Sold to Steve O’Rourke (EMKA Productions)
Modified to Group 5 specification by Michael Cane Racing
White & Blue livery
26/04/1981 WSC Monza 1000km (D. Bell / S. O'Rourke) DNF (#21)
10/05/1981 WSC Silverstone 6 Hours (D. Bell / S. O'Rourke / D. Hobbs) 2nd oa, 1st GTX class (#40)
24/05/1981 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (D. Bell / H. Henzler) 33rd oa, 12th Gr.5 class (#24)
Blue livery
14/06/1981 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (D. Hobbs / S. O'Rourke / E. Jordan) DNF (#53)
12/07/1981 WSC Watkins Glen 6 Hours (D. Bell / S. O'Rourke) DNF (#95)
27/09/1981 WSC Brands Hatch 1000km (D. Bell / C. Craft) 3rd oa, 1st Gr.5 class (#22)
White & Blue Olympus livery
16/05/1982 WSC Silverstone 6 Hours (S. O'Rourke / N. Mason / J. Allam) 20th oa, 5th Gr.5 class (#62)
20/06/1982 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (S. O'Rourke / N. Mason / R. Down) DNF (#62)
Later returned to 1979 Procar trim
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: BMW - https://www.bmw.com
