{"id":28714,"date":"2024-02-15T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T08:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/?p=28714"},"modified":"2024-02-14T16:31:18","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T16:31:18","slug":"1988-bmw-e30-m3-prodrive-project-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/1988-bmw-e30-m3-prodrive-project-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"1988 BMW E30 M3 Prodrive \u2013 Project Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Formula One<\/a> to rallying<\/a> we really do run the gamut of classic motorsport metal here at Car & Classic. Whether you’re after a slice of competition history as a show piece or you want a race-prepared weapon to actually compete with then we’ve got you covered. With so many track cars and racing cars gracing these fair pages, any budding motorsport enthusiast has plenty to choose from, including this 1988 BMW E30 M3 Prodrive rally car<\/a> – the very beast piloted by Fran\u00e7ois Chatriot and Michel P\u00e9rin don’t you know.<\/p>\n

\"M3,<\/a><\/p>\n

As we’re sure you’re all aware, the BMW E30 M3 was a formidable car in road-going form. With almost 200bhp from its four-cylinder engine it was capable of the best part of 150mph, but its the racing versions where things get really interesting, specifically when British motorsport and engineering wizards Prodrive got involved.<\/p>\n

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Perhaps best known for its long-standing and highly successful relationship with Subaru, Prodrive ran the Japanese auto maker’s rally campaigns, beginning back in the early ’90s, which resulted in three Drivers’ and three Manufacturers’ World Rally Championships. In other words, they know their onions when it comes to rallying, but before any Subaru successes Prodrive developed and prepared several BMW E30 M3 examples to compete (and subsequently succeed) in the British Touring Car Championship as well as various rally competitions, and hence the BMW E30 M3 Prodrive was born, a car destined to become a legend.<\/p>\n