One to Buy: ex-Project Four Racing / Steve O'Rourke 1979 BMW M1 Procar
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Although production delays over at Lamborghini who had been commissioned to handle development and assembly meant the M1’s homologation into Group 4 and 5 was rubber stamped two years late, BMW’s innovative solution to get the car racing for the ‘79 season ironically gave the company even more exposure than had originally been anticipated.
What head of BMW Motorsport, Jochen Neerspach, came up with was a one-make Procar series that supported most European rounds of the 1979 and ‘80 Formula 1 World Championship. The fastest five F1 drivers in first practice would be allocated the top five Procar grid slots with the rest of the fieldgrid made up of anyone who stumped up enough cash to buy their own car.
Big prize money, massive exposure and being involved in the F1 circus resulted in a sea of the spectacular M1 Procars competing at every round with a mix of established professionals, upcoming youngsters and gentleman privateers behind the wheel.
Currently on offer at the Dylan Miles showroom in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is arguably the most famous M1 Procar of all: chassis 4301028.
Purchased by Ron Dennis at Project Four Racing for two-time F1 champion Niki Lauda to drive, chassis 4301028 contested all eight Procar races in 1979. Wins at Monaco, Silverstone and Hockenheim plus a second place at Monza meant Lauda finished the season as champion on 78 points.
The car was then driven by John Watson and Jochen Mass to fourth overall and third in class at the end-of-season Kyalami 1000km.
Chassis 4301028 subsequently picked up another two wins in the 1980 Procar series thanks to Hans-Joachim Stuck, after which it was sold to Pink Floyd manager Steve O’Rourke and converted to Group 5 specification. In this configuration, the car collected two class wins from eight World Sportscar Championship outings (at the 1981 Silverstone 6 Hours and Brands Hatch 1000km).
Chassis 4301028 has more recently reverted to its 1979 Procar trim and is offered in excellent original condition throughout.
