Video: BMW M1 Procar vs. Porsche 935

24th March 2020

Laura Thomson

With all that is going on in the world, it helps to take a look back at happier times for motorsport. Times such as May 2011, when the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps hosted their inaugural ‘Classic’, inviting dozens of cars to take part in seven different races at the 4.352-mile, 21-turn track.

One such car was this, a BMW M1 Procar, competing in the Classic Endurance Racing class, with prototypes from 1973-1979 and GT’s from 1973-1975. It was brilliant selection, to put it mildly. And this is a brilliant onboard, again putting it mildly.

The noise is astounding. Built for a one-car namesake championship, the M1 Procar was designed to meet Group 4 technical regulations and based on the M1 road car (if you haven’t seen our GRRC Original M1 Procar – Two Years of Heaven you really should). However, extensive aerodynamic, engine and chassis modifications made it an entirely different beast. With all unnecessary trim from the road car removed, the Procar weighed just 1,020kg, and it had a 3.5-litre straight-six with 470bhp at 9,000rpm. It’s that brilliant engine you can hear today, screaming away. Modern, turbocharged racers might be faster, but these old naturally aspirated machines sound so much better.

Thanks to all that power the M1 Procar could accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, before topping out at 193mph. We don’t get to see that at Spa, sadly, but the driver is getting pretty close, and whilst duelling with a similarly loud Ferrari 512 BB LM. It’s battles like this that make it almost impossible for GRR not to visit the Spa Classic.

Watch as it chases the pack through the infamous Eau Rouge, taking Raidillon flat out, then through Bruxelles. Down the Double Gauche it flirts with the back of the pack, passing and being passed in turn. A flat-out sprint through Blanchimont is brought to an abrupt halt by the chicane, where the driver shifts down through the ‘box as he negotiates his way through. After passing under the start gantry, the video draws to a close as the group reach the Kemmel Straight once again, leaving us longing for more.

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: When Thierry Neuville filled his WRC car’s radiator up with beer