There hasn’t been a BMW 3 Series in the British Touring Car Championship since 2012, when it was replaced by the 125i M Sport. But that’s about to change with the G20-generation model set to join the BTCC grid in 2019.
While the 1 Series was a competitive racer, having claimed two drivers’ trophies (in 2014 and 2018), the 3 Series’s heritage is far stronger in the BTCC.
Indeed, the 3 Series claimed five drivers’ titles and two manufacturer titles from 1988 to 2009, across the car’s various generations from the E30 M3 to the E90 320Si. Now, BMW hopes to continue this heritage with the new 330i M Sport which will make its debut at the 2019 BTCC Brands Hatch Indy Circuit early in April.
Fielding the cars for this year’s season will be long-time BMW partner West Surrey Racing, with a third 330i M Sport driven by 2013 champion Andrew Jordan under the BMW Pritek Racing banner.
“The BMW 3 Series has a rich and successful history competing in the BTCC and we are extremely proud to see that tradition continue. This all-new BMW 3 Series is the road-going dynamic benchmark and we have a great track record working with our partners at West Surrey Racing, so 2019 looks set to be a very exciting year for us in the BTCC,” said Graeme Grieve, CEO of BMW UK.
