BMW M3 Touring: From April Fool's Joke to 2026 Nürburgring Race Car

The BMW M3 Touring 24H makes its debut at the 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Born from a simple April Fool's joke published in April 2025, this racing version of the Bavarian sports wagon generated over 1.6 million views on social media, pushing BMW M Motorsport to materialize the project in just 8 months. Entered by the Schubert Motorsport team in the SPX category, it will take to the Nordschleife track on May 16 and 17.

"While this car may have started as an April 1st joke, it has become an absolutely top-tier and competitive race car" — Jens Klingmann, Official BMW Driver

When the Joke Becomes Reality

On April 1, 2025, BMW M Motorsport published images on its social media of a supposed M3 Touring GT3 under development. The post went viral: reaching over 1 million users and generating engagement "several times higher than usual figures" for the brand. Faced with this tidal wave of comments demanding the project be made real, BMW decided to turn the fantasy into an official program.

The idea of a racing M3 Touring had already been bouncing around in the engineers' heads since the wagon's launch in 2022. But it was this viral April Fool's joke that provided the decisive push. In August 2025, BMW gave the green light and launched development in September. Goal: have the car ready in a tight 8 months.

M4 GT3 EVO Base, Wagon Body

Technically, the BMW M3 Touring 24H is built on the foundations of the M4 GT3 EVO. Under the hood, we find the twin-turbo inline-six S58 3.0-liter engine, producing 586 horsepower. All of this is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox, in line with GT3 standards.

The big difference lies in the carbon fiber bodywork that follows the wagon's lines. Result: slightly larger dimensions than the M4 GT3, particularly in length and height with the imposing rear wing. BMW has not released lap times on the Nordschleife, but the car should post performance figures close to its coupe cousin.

SPX Category, No Direct Confrontation

The Schubert Motorsport team will field this M3 Touring in the SPX category, reserved for atypical or experimental vehicles. So, no direct confrontation with the BMW M4 GT3 EVOs entered in the premier SP9 category for the overall win. A logical choice that avoids awkward comparisons between the wagon and the optimized coupes.

For its first outing, the car will sport a special livery incorporating comments from social media—a nod to its origin. A different decoration is planned for the 24 Hours race itself.

First Laps by End of March

When can we see this M3 Touring race car run?

The BMW M3 Touring 24H will complete its very first competitive laps next weekend, during the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). This race will serve as a preparation phase before the main event in May.

The crew for this first outing includes Jens Klingmann (Germany), Ugo de Wilde (Belgium), Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Neil Verhagen (USA), all official BMW M drivers.

A Successful Marketing Bet

This project perfectly illustrates the growing influence of online communities on manufacturers' decisions. BMW knew how to capitalize on a digital buzz to create a unique vehicle, which will serve both the brand's notoriety and the on-track spectacle.

Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, summarizes the challenge: "A project like the BMW M3 Touring"