VIN: the BMW Motorsport / Team Bigazzi McLaren F1 GTR chassis 18R
History of chassis 18R
Chassis 18R was the third of three 1996-spec. GTRs delivered to Team Bigazzi on behalf of BMW Motorsport.
At the time, the Italian Bigazzi operation were best known for handling BMW’s German Super Touring effort. Several of BMW’s top touring car drivers were transferred to the works F1 GTR programme.
18R initially acted as the spare while its sister cars (16R and 17R) were used at Le Mans (plus a preparatory outing at the Silverstone 4 Hour BPR GT Championship race).
In late 1996, 18R got its first competitive action when it was shipped out to Brazil for the end-of-season Temporada series in December.
The Temporada comprised a pair of two hour races at Curitiba and Brasilia that were promoted by the BPR organisation and local hero, Nelson Piquet.
Backing came from Hollywood cigarettes and BMW of Brazil. Piquet was joined in 18R by BMW works driver, Steve Soper, and together they won both events.
Afterwards, 18R stayed on for the Mil Milhas Brasileiras which was held at the Jacarepagua circuit in Rio during the third week of January 1997. Piquet and Soper were co-driven by Johnny Cecotto in the 1000-mile race and, against limited opposition, they won by 21 laps despite incurring two stop-and-go penalties.
With its competitive career over, 18R returned to BMW.
Despite its immaculate race record of three wins from three starts in Hollywood trim, BMW had the car re-liveried to replicate their number 38 Fina-backed entry from the 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Notable History
Team Bigazzi SRL
White & red Hollywood livery
08/12/1996 TEM Curitiba 2 Hours (N. Piquet / J. Cecotto) 1st oa (#01)
15/12/1996 TEM Brasilia 2 Hours (N. Piquet / J. Cecotto) 1st oa (#01)
19/01/1997 IND Mil Milhas Brasileiras, Jacarepagua (S. Soper / N. Piquet / J. Cecotto) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#01)
Retained by BMW
Colour changed to white, blue & red Fina ‘Union Jack / La Tricolore’ livery from Le Mans 1996
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: BMW - https://www.bmw.com
