BMW to enter M3s for Spa


BMW WILL enter two V8-powered M3 GTRs in the 2004 Spa 24 Hours.

The Munich marque will dovetail an attackon the Belgian race, a round of the FIA GT Championship, with a repeat assault on the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Works team Schnitzer will again run the campaign.

BMW sports boss Mario Theissen said: “The Spa 24 Hours is up there with the Nürburgring race as one of the traditional long-distance events in Europe. It makes sense for us.”

The M3 GTRs will be entered for Spa in the invitational class and it is expected Schnitzer will take in at least one round of the Belgian Belcar GT series to qualify.
FIA GT boss Stephane Ratel confirmed the M3 GTR, which won the ’01 American Le Mans Series, could compete at Spa.
“We want diversity,” he said. “That’s why we have the invitational class. BMW will be good for the race.” Ratel said he expected an FIA GT-spec car to win. “The BMW is between one of our GTcars and an N-GT, so unless all the GT teams shoot themselves in the foot, one of them should win,” he said. Autosport issue 11-12-03