BMW M3 E30 Group A – Video

In contrast to later M3 iterations, the E30 M3 was campaigned by BMW as well as other racing teams including Prodrive and AC Schnitzer in many forms of motorsport, including rallying and road racing. The latter included campaigns in the World Touring Car Championship, Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, British Touring Car Championship, Italian Touring Car Championship, French Touring Car Championship and the Australian Touring Car Championship.

The production of the E30 road car was to homologate the M3 for Group A Touring car racing. It was to compete with various models including the “2.3-16V” variant of the Mercedes-Benz W201 190E that was introduced in 1983.

In full race trim, the naturally aspirated 2.3 L S14 engine produced approximately 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS). With the introduction of the 2.5 L evolution engine into racing in 1990, power increased to approximately 380 hp (283 kW; 385 PS).