BMW in the DTM: from the E30 M3 to the M4 GT3
BMW has a long history in the DTM, Germany's famous touring car series. How the E30 M3 became a legend, the return with the M3 and M4 DTM, the titles and the M4 GT3 era.
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The BMW DTM story is one of the most important chapters of BMW motorsport. The DTM, Germany's famous touring car championship, made the E30 M3 a racing legend in the 1980s and later saw BMW return with the M3 and M4 DTM.
Over the years, BMW drivers have won several championships, and the series has shaped the image of BMW M as a brand with real racing roots. In this article we look at the main eras, the cars, the champions and what the DTM means for BMW today.
What the DTM is
The DTM started in 1984 as a German championship for production-based touring cars. It quickly became one of the most popular racing series in Europe, with close racing, famous brands and well-known drivers.
Over the decades, the rules have changed several times, from production-based cars to purpose-built silhouette racers and, more recently, GT3 cars. Through all these changes, BMW has been one of the key manufacturers in the series.
The E30 M3 era
The E30 M3 was developed as a homologation car for touring car racing, and the DTM was one of its main battlegrounds. Our E30 M3 buying guide explains the road car.
In the DTM, the M3 competed against powerful rivals with larger engines. Its strengths were balance, reliability and agility. BMW drivers won the championship in 1987 with Eric van de Poele and in 1989 with Roberto Ravaglia.
The M3 also won many other touring car championships around the world, making it one of the most successful racing cars of all time. Updated Evolution versions of the road car were built to homologate improvements for racing.
A long break
At the beginning of the 1990s, the DTM moved towards highly sophisticated and expensive racing cars. BMW left the series after the 1992 season and focused on other forms of motorsport, including other touring car championships, endurance racing and Formula 1.
The DTM itself went through difficult years and was relaunched in a new form in 2000, but BMW did not return immediately.
BMW DTM comeback with the M3 DTM
BMW returned to the DTM in 2012 with the M3 DTM, based on the E92 M3 coupé. The comeback was a remarkable success: Bruno Spengler won the drivers' championship in BMW's first season back, and BMW also took the manufacturers' title.
The DTM cars of this era were purpose-built racing machines with a carbon fibre monocoque, a front-mounted V8 engine and a strong aerodynamic package. They shared only their basic shape and brand identity with the road cars.
The M4 DTM
From 2014, BMW raced the M4 DTM, based on the new M4 coupé. Marco Wittmann won the drivers' championship in 2014 and again in 2016, adding further titles to BMW's DTM record.
Later, the series introduced new technical rules with four-cylinder turbo engines. BMW continued to compete with the M4 DTM until the end of this era.
The GT3 era
From 2021, the DTM switched to GT3 cars, which are closer to road-going sports cars and are raced by private teams in many championships around the world. BMW teams compete with the M4 GT3, based on the G82 M4.
In 2022, Sheldon van der Linde won the drivers' championship with a BMW M4 GT3. The GT3 era has made the DTM more open to customer teams and created close racing between many brands. Our article on the BMW M3 G80 vs F80 explains the road cars that share the M3 and M4 names with these racing cars.
Famous BMW DTM drivers
Many drivers have built their careers with BMW in the DTM. Some of the best-known names include:
- Roberto Ravaglia, champion in 1989 with the E30 M3 and one of the most successful touring car drivers of his era.
- Eric van de Poele, champion in 1987.
- Bruno Spengler, champion in 2012 in BMW's comeback year.
- Marco Wittmann, champion in 2014 and 2016 with the M4 DTM.
- Sheldon van der Linde, champion in 2022 with the M4 GT3.
Other BMW drivers have won many races without taking the title. Their battles with rivals from other brands are part of the series' history and are still discussed by fans today.
What the DTM means for BMW M
Racing success in the DTM has helped build the reputation of BMW M as a performance brand. Technologies and lessons from racing, such as aerodynamics, cooling and lightweight construction, influence road cars.
For many fans, the sight of an M3 or M4 racing door-to-door with its rivals is the purest expression of BMW M. Visiting a DTM race weekend, with its paddock access and close racing, is one of the best ways to experience BMW motorsport in person. Our article on BMW and the Nürburgring explains another important racing location for BMW.
BMW in the DTM at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Series | DTM, German touring car championship |
| Started | 1984 |
| First BMW era | E30 M3, titles in 1987 and 1989 |
| Break | BMW left after the 1992 season |
| Comeback | 2012 with the M3 DTM, title in the first year |
| M4 DTM titles | Marco Wittmann in 2014 and 2016 |
| GT3 era | M4 GT3, title in 2022 |
Frequently asked questions
When did BMW win the DTM?
BMW drivers won the title in 1987, 1989, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2022, among other successes.
Which BMW raced in the DTM?
The E30 M3 in the 1980s, the M3 DTM from 2012, the M4 DTM from 2014 and the M4 GT3 from 2021.
Why did BMW leave the DTM in 1992?
The series moved towards very expensive, highly specialised cars, and BMW decided to focus on other motorsport programmes.
Are DTM cars based on road cars?
Modern GT3 cars are based on road models such as the M4. The earlier DTM cars of 2012 to 2020 were purpose-built racing cars.
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