{"id":496,"date":"2012-02-21T22:40:21","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T21:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bmwe21.net\/?page_id=496"},"modified":"2020-11-19T16:01:16","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T15:01:16","slug":"e21s-in-racing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bmwe21.net\/?page_id=496","title":{"rendered":"E21’s in racing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the 1960\u2019s and early 70\u2019s, BMW cars were very successful both on the track and in rallying. Besides the works teams, we also saw starting tuning companies like Alpina and Schnitzer preparing their own 02\u2019s and CSL\u2019s. In the following years, more tuners emerged that would be seen in the E21 racing scene as well, like Alpina dealership Faltz, Kelleners, Eggenberger and GS-Tuning. By 1975, the CSL\u2019s and 02\u2019s were having a hard time on the track with competitors like Ford and Porsche becoming stronger and stronger.<\/p>\n

 1976, development of the big wings and wide arches
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Mid 1976 BMW ordered that a new Group 5 racecar was to be developed based on the lighter E21 chassis (compared to the CSL’s that were used previously for the powerful engines). The E21 body was to be combined with the successful, powerful and reliable M12 Formula 2 engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection which was based on the regular M10 4 cilinder engine. Even though a smaller car was used as a basis, further weight reductions and balance improvements were booked using lighter materials like aluminum in the suspension and fibreglass doors, lids and wings.<\/p>\n

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M12\/7 naturally aspirated Formula 2 engine – click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

The end result that BMW presented in December 1976 was a racecar that weighed 740 kgs including the driver and 60 litres of fuel, a 50\/50 weight distribution and 304 BHP at 9.250 rpm! And BMW Motorsport manager Jochen Neerpasch had more up his sleeve, presenting the successful Formula 3 drivers Eddie Cheever, Marc Surer and Manfred Winkelhock to complete the BMW Junior Team army. He definitely had an eye for talent, these drivers would all end up in Formula 1!<\/p>\n

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1977, start of the E21 in Group 5
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The Faltz team also entered two 320i\u2019s for the soon to start 1977 season driven by Formula 1 drivers Hans Joachim St\u00fcck and Ronnie Peterson in the known orange J\u00e4germeiser livery. With the Junior Team youngsters driving very aggressively at times, BMW swapped drivers a couple of times and also introduced David Hobbs as a driver. Bad publicity forced BMW to introduce some Gentlemen drivers and Hobbs, St\u00fcck and Peterson were among them. The teams were doing well winning races here and there, but the championship was not within reach.<\/p>\n

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Hans-Joachim St\u00fcck taking the Karoussel at the N\u00fcrburgring’s Nordschleife<\/p><\/div>\n

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Junior Eddie Cheever airborn at the N\u00fcrburgring<\/p><\/div>\n

In the meantime, in the US the 320i\u2019s started off being no competition to Porsche\u2019s turbocharged 934 and 935 models and BMW ordered McLaren North America to build a turbocharged version. In April of the 1977 IMSA season the 500 BHP car driven by David Hobbs was among the Porsches! Later that year this car was driven by Hobbs and Peterson in the Mosport 6 hours, accompanied by a 2nd turbocharged car built in Munich. The car was driven by Formula One newcomer Gilles Villeneuve and Eddie Cheever and finished 3rd after two 934\u2019s. When these two Porsches were disqualified for not meeting race class regulations, Villeneuve and Cheever ended up winning the race. Overall though, the turbocharged cars lacked reliability.<\/p>\n

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The McLaren BMW 320i turbo IMSA racer, also see drawing below<\/p><\/div>\n

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1978, dominating the 2 litre classes
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In 1978, the naturally aspirated 320i\u2019s competed both in the German DRM championship and the World Touringcar Championship. Third places overall were the common picture, but the cars absolutely dominated the 2 lire class. BMW produced 28 racecars and most of them were supplied to tuners as kits. But as Porsche was developing just as well, a new step was required. Schnitzer introduced a turbocharged version that was driven by Harald Ertl, getting 380 BHP out of 1427 cc\u2019s. Manfred Winkelhock also started to use this engine when driving for the HAT team. Later that season BMW also built a turbocharged version that was driven by newcomer Markus H\u00f6ttinger. The shorter stroke of the BMW unit made it more driveable and more powerful, reaching 410 BHP at 9.400 rpm.<\/p>\n