The internet asked. BMW actually delivered. What started as a cheeky April Fools’ post in 2025 is now one of the most exciting entries on the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours grid — the BMW M3 Touring 24H.
The Joke That Became a Race Car
On 1 April 2025, BMW M Motorsport posted images on its social media platforms of a supposedly in-development BMW M3 Touring GT race car. RACER Nobody expected what came next. The post reached more than one million users and generated over 1.6 million views — engagement many times higher than the usual figures for BMW M Motorsport’s social media channels. The fans had spoken, and BMW was listening.
Built in Eight Months. Built for the Green Hell.
Over the course of just eight months, the BMW M3 Touring 24H was built. Motorsport This isn’t a showpiece — it’s a proper race car. It shares the same technical base as the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, but is derived from the basic body of the BMW M3 Touring, sitting 200mm longer and 32mm higher than its GT3 sibling. Under the skin, that means up to 582bhp from BMW’s P58 3.0-litre turbo straight six sent to the rear wheels, plus upgraded anti-roll bars, fatter brakes, and a tweaked diff.
Fan Comments on the Livery. Seriously.
BMW has embraced the April Fools’ origin by plastering selected fan comments from the original social media post onto the car as part of its livery, along with the phrase: “You dreamed it. We built it.” The final 24-hour race livery will be different — but the message stays the same.
Who’s Behind the Wheel
At the wheel of the BMW M3 Touring 24H, fielded by Schubert Motorsport, will be four BMW M works drivers: Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen. The car will compete in the SPX class, so it won’t be in direct competition with the three BMW M4 GT3 EVOs fighting for overall victory in the top SP9 category.
The Race Date
On 16th/17th May, the BMW M3 Touring 24H will compete as a spectacular highlight in the “Green Hell,” with its competitive debut coming at the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS).
