Background
BMW 320i Gr.2 Warsteiner DRM 1979 (E21) represents the motorsport history of BMW’s first-generation 3 Series. Introduced in 1975, the E21 succeeded the successful BMW 02 Series and continued the company’s tradition of compact sporting cars. Alongside its production models, the E21 became an important platform for racing cars developed by both BMW Motorsport and independent racing teams.
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft
The Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM) was one of Europe’s most prominent touring-car racing championships during the 1970s. It featured extensively modified competition cars, including several different versions of the BMW 320. The E21’s compact body and rear-wheel-drive layout provided a suitable foundation for naturally aspirated racing cars as well as the considerably more powerful turbocharged Group 5 machines.
The Warsteiner racing car
In 1979, Team Warsteiner-TBS entered the DRM championship with a gold-liveried BMW 320 carrying racing number 26. The car was driven by German racing driver Uwe Reich. Historical racing records document the car at the DRM event held at Zolder in Belgium on 11 March 1979. Although the car was entered and present at the circuit, it did not start the race.
A two-litre racing engine
Uwe Reich’s BMW differed considerably from the better-known turbocharged BMW 320 Group 5 cars. The Zolder racing records identify its engine as a 1,990 cm³ naturally aspirated BMW M10 four-cylinder with a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder. The car was entered in the second DRM division for racing cars with engines of up to two litres. A reliably documented power output for this particular vehicle is not available.
A competition-prepared E21
Compared with the regular BMW 320i, the racing car featured widened wheel arches, a lower stance and sporting aerodynamic modifications. Its competition-prepared body and chassis improved handling and allowed the use of wider racing tyres. The distinctive gold Warsteiner livery with darker contrasting details gave Uwe Reich’s car a particularly recognisable appearance.
The E21 in BMW motorsport history
The BMW E21 racing cars continued the touring-car tradition established by the earlier 02 Series. Alongside BMW Motorsport’s factory projects, numerous independently prepared cars competed in different racing championships. The Warsteiner BMW 320 illustrates the diversity of this period, when racing cars based on the same production model could feature very different technical specifications and performance levels.
Model in the collection
The BMW 320i Gr.2 Warsteiner DRM 1979 (E21) in my collection was produced by Neo Scale Models. It is an exclusive edition manufactured for Model Car World and represents Uwe Reich’s 1979 racing car with competition number 26. The model was released in a limited production run of just 500 examples.
Technical data in brief
Year: 1979
Racing series: Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM)
Documented race entry: Zolder, 11 March 1979
Team: Team Warsteiner-TBS
Driver: Uwe Reich
Racing number: 26
Base model: BMW 320i (E21)
Model designation: Group 2 (Gr.2)
Competition class: DRM Division II
Engine: naturally aspirated BMW M10 four-cylinder
Displacement: 1,990 cm³
Engine configuration: single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Tyres: Dunlop
Special feature: gold-liveried Warsteiner BMW 320 entered for Uwe Reich at the 1979 Zolder DRM event