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BMW Turned Its April Fools’ M3 Touring Joke Into a Nürburgring Race Car

BMW’s M3 Touring 24H went from an April Fools’ post to a real Nürburgring 24 Hours entry, built on the M4 GT3 EVO technical base.
Entry255 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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BMW really did build the M3 Touring race car teased as an April Fools’ joke. The purpose-built BMW M3 Touring 24H raced at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, using the BMW M4 GT3 EVO’s technical base beneath an M3 Touring body—not a standard road-going wagon with racing decals.

How BMW’s April Fools’ joke became a real race car

On 1 April 2025, BMW M Motorsport shared images of a supposedly in-development BMW M3 Touring GT race car. BMW says the post reached more than one million users and generated over 1.6 million views. Those are figures reported by BMW for its own post, not independent audience measurements.

BMW says engineers had considered a racing version since the road-going M3 Touring launched in 2022. The response to the joke helped turn that idea into a concrete project in summer 2025. The team built the car in eight months, according to BMW’s announcement of 16 March 2026.

BMW summed up the decision in that announcement: “Our fans asked for it, and we delivered.” The statement is attributed to BMW M Motorsport, not to a named engineer or executive.

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Solido 1:18 Scale BMW M3 (G81) Touring with Performance Parts Frozen Pure Grey Metallic 2024 Diecast Model Car S1813702
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What the BMW M3 Touring 24H is

The BMW M3 Touring 24H combines the body of the M3 Touring with the technical base of the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. BMW describes the two cars’ technical data as identical. The Touring-bodied car is 200 millimetres longer and 32 millimetres taller, including its rear wing, than the M4 GT3 EVO. Those specifications and comparisons come from BMW.

That distinction matters: this is a competition car built around GT3-derived underpinnings, not a production M3 Touring converted with a few cosmetic changes. BMW’s car information describes the race car and its technical basis at The BMW M3 Touring 24H.

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  • 1 :24 Scale M3 Model Car Size: 7.87×3.34×2.36 INCH. Just the right size for little ones to grasp. It's Made of non-Toxic Water-Based Paint,So it Doesn’t Contain Formaldehyde and any Other HarmfulCute cars for kids ages 3-5.
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How it differed from BMW’s M4 GT3 EVO entries

Category BMW M3 Touring 24H BMW M4 GT3 EVO
Body M3 Touring body M4 GT3 EVO body
Technical basis and data Uses the M4 GT3 EVO technical base; BMW says the cars’ technical data are identical. Technical base shared with the M3 Touring 24H; BMW says the cars’ technical data are identical.
Dimensions 200 mm longer and 32 mm taller, including rear wing, than the M4 GT3 EVO, according to BMW. Reference for BMW’s stated dimensional comparison.
2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours class SP-X SP9

The separate class entries mean the M3 Touring 24H was not directly competing against BMW’s three M4 GT3 EVOs in SP9 for overall victory. BMW outlined the car and its planned entry in its 16 March 2026 announcement.

Did the M3 Touring 24H race at the Nürburgring?

Yes. The 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring took place from 14 to 17 May. BMW entered car #81 with Schubert Motorsport. The announced BMW M works drivers were Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi and Neil Verhagen; the organizer’s provisional class result lists the same four drivers.

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In the organizer’s provisional race result by class, published 17 May 2026, car #81 is listed first in SP-X with 156 laps. This is a provisional class result, not a confirmed final overall event result: on 28 May, the organizer said the overall result was not yet officially confirmed following an inspection of a separate SP9 car. Its notice is titled “Final result of the 24h Nürburgring not yet confirmed”.

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Why the project stands out

The story is unusual because BMW made a fan-facing joke into an actual endurance-racing project. The finished car kept the Touring silhouette that inspired the reaction, while its M4 GT3 EVO technical base made it a purpose-built competition machine. Its SP-X entry also gave it a distinct place at the event rather than putting it in the SP9 class with BMW’s M4 GT3 EVO contenders.

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ERBADIHAGO Toy Car 1:24 Scale Compatible with BMW M3 CSL Diecast Model Car
  • High quality toy car models:Toy car opening doors and engine compartment, the model car has movable parts, lights and hood open to see the motor.
  • 1 :24 Scale M3 Model Car Size: 7.87×3.34×2.36 INCH. Just the right size for little ones to grasp. It's Made of non-Toxic Water-Based Paint,So it Doesn’t Contain Formaldehyde and any Other HarmfulCute cars for kids ages 3-5.
  • Realistic Light & Sound Functions:Equipped with a bottom switch to control two modes: light mode keeps the lights on for a period of time, while horn sound mode plays realistic horn sounds when you press the steering wheel.
  • Material:M3 toy car made of zinc alloy and excellent ABS material, rubber tiresit, is stronger and more resistant to fall than ordinary plastic. detailed interior and exterior trim.It's Made of non-Toxic Water-Based Paint,So it Doesn’t Contain Formaldehyde and any Other Harmful.
  • Kids Toy car:Exquisite Packaging,Interesting Functions,Solid Materials,Suitable for Christmas and Birthday Gifts.With a collection of souvenirs for friends and family. It can be displayed to increase beauty and appreciation.

BMW Group’s U.S. press announcement, also dated 16 March 2026, recounts the project and planned Nürburgring entry: From April Fools’ joke to the Nordschleife…

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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