BMW M3 Touring GT3 to Race at Nürburgring 24 Hours

What began as an April Fools’ joke has evolved into one of the most intriguing entries at this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours.

BMW has officially announced that a race-prepared M3 Touring GT3 will take its place on the grid, turning what was once a playful concept into a serious endurance contender.

The idea first surfaced on April 1, 2025, when BMW teased the ‘M3 Touring GT3 Evo’, a garage-built racing estate featuring a massive rear wing.

It seemed too outlandish to be real. However, on March 16, 2026, BMW confirmed that this very car would compete in one of motorsport’s toughest endurance races.

Underneath its estate exterior, the M3 Touring 24H shares the same technical base as the BMW M4 GT3 Evo.

It’s powered by BMW’s P58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine, delivering up to 582 horsepower to the rear wheels.

The chassis has been heavily adapted for the demands of endurance racing, with upgraded suspension, revised anti-roll bars, bigger brakes, and a modified differential designed to tackle the grueling Nordschleife.

Mechanically, it parallels the M4 GT3 Evo, but the body unmistakably belongs to the Touring family.

BMW notes that the estate racer is 200 millimeters longer and 32 millimeters taller than the coupe-based GT3, giving it a distinctive presence on the track.

The result is a car that looks unusual but somehow suits the race’s intense, focused nature.

Schubert Motorsport will field the car with a four-driver team: Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen.

Each brings valuable BMW endurance racing experience to guide the M3 Touring through its debut season.

This car isn’t aiming for the overall win at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Instead, it will compete in the SPX class, which allows manufacturers to showcase experimental projects without impacting the fight for the overall podium.

BMW’s primary challenge for victory remains with its trio of M4 GT3 Evo entries.

For Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, this project marks something quite new for the brand’s racing efforts.

He calls it a unique concept brought to life for the fans who gather each year at the Nürburgring—often considered a second home for BMW M.

Before the main event in May, the M3 Touring 24H will make its competitive debut at the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie next weekend.

What started as a lighthearted concept is now gearing up to face one of the world’s most demanding racing circuits head-on.

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