VIN: the Speed Star Wheel Racing Team / Auto Beaurex Motor Sports BMW M1 Procar chassis 4301077
History of chassis 4301077
Chassis 4301077 was completed in May 1979 having been built up by Project Four Racing run by Ron Dennis. Uniquely, the car was painted silver with a tapered BMW Motorsport tricolour down the centre. However, the client that placed the order was unable to complete owing to funding issues and 4301077 was instead sold to Speed Star Wheel in Japan.
Established in 1971, Osaka-based Speed Star was the first company to offer a three-piece split rim wheel which the firm sold alongside its existing two-piece items.
In 1977, Speed Star entered the All-Japan Formula 2000 Championship and from 1978 the firm moved up to the domestic Formula 2 series.
Speed Star’s M1 Procar marked the operation’s move into the Sports / GT racing scene. It arrived on Japanese soil in late August of 1979, just a few days before Naoki Nagasaka and Kunimitsu Takahashi contested the Suzuka 500 mile non-championship race on August 26th where they finished fourth overall and first in class.
Chassis 4301077 did not race again in 1979, but for 1980 it was entered in all three rounds of the Fuji Long Distance series which Naoki Nagasaka and Naohiro Fujita won following a trio of class victories in the 500km, 1000km and 500 mile races at the circuit.
During the winter of 1980-1981, the M1 was sold to another Japanese company, Auto Beaurex Motor Sports. Auto Beaurex had 4301077 repainted the traditional M1 Procar colour scheme of white with a diagonal BMW Motorsport tricolour. They continued to employ Naoki Nagasaka to drive and for the car’s two 1981 appearances he was partnered by Shinji Uchida.
Nagasaka and Uchida contested a brace of the Fuji Long Distance events that season; they failed to finish the 500km race in June (the car’s first DNF) but won their class in the 1000km event six weeks later.
For the 1982 season, Auto Beaurex had chassis 4301077 converted to Group 5 trim. In its new white and red-striped livery, the car went on to do five events that season, its busiest campaign yet.
Naoki Nagasaka and Fumiyasu Sato won four events outright in 1982 and took class wins in all five races. An enormously successful season saw 4301077 take overall victory in each of the three Fuji Long Distance events as well as the Suzuka 1000km non-championship race. In the Fuji 6 Hour World Sportscar Championship contest, Nagasaka and Sato placed fourth overall and won the Group 5 category.
Unfortunately, Fumiyaso Sato was killed on May 1st 1983 during practice for the Fuji 250km which was round two of the Fuji Grand Champion Series.
Sato’s seat in the M1 was taken by Masatomo Shimizu who accompanied Naoki Nagasaka for chassis 4301077’s two outings during 1983. They finished second overall and first in class at the Fuji 500km in June, but failed to finish the 1000km six weeks later which was the car’s last event in period.
In 1984, chassis 4301077 was sold to one of Auto Beaurex’s sponsors who retained it until the late 2000s. The car has since been restored to its original Group 4 / Procar trim.
Notable History
Silver with BMW Motorsport tricolour
Speed Star Wheel Racing Team, Minoh, Osaka
26/08/1979 IND Suzuka 500 mile (N. Nagasaka / K. Takahashi) 4th oa, 1st Gr.2 (#21)
01/06/1980 FLD Fuji 500km (N. Nagasaka / N. Fujita) 3rd oa, 1st Gr.C class (#6)
27/07/1980 FLD Fuji 1000km (N. Nagasaka / N. Fujita) 5th oa, 1st Gr.C class (#6)
23/11/1980 FLD Fuji 500 mile (N. Nagasaka / N. Fujita) 4th oa, 1st Gr.C class (#6)
Auto Beaurex Motor Sports
White with BMW Motorsport tricolour
07/06/1981 FLD Fuji 500km (N. Nagasaka / S. Uchida) DNF (#82)
26/07/1981 FLD Fuji 1000km (N. Nagasaka / S. Uchida) 4th oa, 1st Gr.C class (#82)
Converted to Group 5 trim
White & red livery
06/06/1982 FLD Fuji 500km (N. Nagasaka / F. Sato) 1st oa, 1st Gr.C class (#1)
25/07/1982 FLD Fuji 1000km (N. Nagasaka / F. Sato) 1st oa, 1st Gr. C class (#1)
29/08/1982 IND Suzuka 1000km (N. Nagasaka / F. Sato) 1st oa, 1st Gr.B class (#1)
03/10/1982 WSC Fuji 6 Hours (N. Nagasaka / F. Sato) 4th oa, 1st Gr.5 class (#8)
28/11/1982 FLD Fuji 500km (N. Nagasaka / F. Sato) 1st oa. 1st Gr.C class (#1)
Dark Blue with BMW Motorsport tricolour
05/06/1983 FLD Fuji 500km (N. Nagasaka / M. Shimizu) 2nd oa, 1st Gr.C class (#1)
24/07/1983 FLD Fuji 1000km (N. Nagasaka / M. Shimizu) DNF (#1)
1984 sold to one of Auto Beaurex’s sponsors
Retained until late 2000s
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ecurie Bowden - https://www.bowdensown.com.au/
