The history of the E26 BMW M1 is a tragic one. First, Lamborghini put the entire project in jeopardy, then the botched Group 4 homologation and the second oil crisis shocked everyone. But owning one of the only 453 mid-engine speedsters built as a result is all the more enjoyable, as Reiner Ahrend knows.
Step One of raising your profile as a car brand: build a supercar. And since you’re BMW Motorsport GmbH (the snappy one-letter nickname isn’t official until 1991), best make one that’s a racing car as well as a road car.
