BMW M1 in the Legends Parade in Spielberg.

[BMW Power]

BMW M1 in the Legends Parade in Spielberg.
In 1979 and 1980 the BMW M1 thrilled fans in the Procar Series, which took place on Formula One weekends in Europe.



The spectacular racing car returned this weekend to once again put motorsport fans in the mood for a Formula One World Championship. Immediately before Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, BMW Group Classic sent many BMW M1s onto the track in the Legends Parade. Many well-known Procar Series drivers from days gone by took the opportunity to return to the cockpit of the super sports car. Among those to take part in the Legends Parade in exactly the same BMW M1s they raced in back then were Niki Lauda, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Jochen Mass, Christian Danner and Marc Surer. Once rivals, Dieter Quester and Sepp Manhalter were also part of the Legends Parade, along with ex-Formula One drivers Gerhard Berger, Jos Verstappen and Jan Lammers, as well as Harald Grohs, BMW Brand Ambassador Prince Leopold of Bavaria and Johnny Cecotto. The BMW M1 was the first car designed by BMW Motorsport GmbH specifically for use in competition. The 204-kW/277-hp production version boasted a top speed of almost 265 km/h, making it the fastest German road-going sports car of its time.