From April Fools to Green Hell: The BMW M3 Touring 24 Hours of Nürburgring

What started as an April Fools' Day prank in 2025 has become a reality. This year, BMW M Motorsport will race a version of the M3 Touring at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

The original social media post announcing the M3 Touring GT race car reached over a million users and generated 1.6 million views. The overwhelming fan response prompted BMW to approve a real racing version last summer. Engineers completed the BMW M3 Touring 24H in just eight months.

Based on the M4 GT3 EVO's mechanical package, the Touring 24H uses the same chassis and powertrain, but its wagon body makes it 200 mm longer and 32 mm taller. It will compete in the SPX class at the Nordschleife, separate from the top SP9 category, in which three M4 GT3 EVOs will battle for the overall victory.

The car will make its racing debut this weekend in the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie, ahead of the 24-hour race on May 16-17. Schubert Motorsport will manage the entry, and BMW works drivers Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen will share driving duties.

The car's initial livery features comments from fans on the original April Fools' post. A special design is planned for the 24-hour race itself.

"This is truly a unique project," Klingmann said. "The car may have started as an April Fools' joke, but it has become a top-class, competitive race car."