BMW's M3 Touring Race Car April Fools' Joke Is Actually Going Racing

The German automaker is entering the unique wagon in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Last year, BMW pulled an April Fools' Day prank by unveiling an M3 Touring race car, but now the company is taking that joke one step further by actually developing the wagon for competition. The resulting car, dubbed the M3 Touring 24H, is set to compete in this year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

Why it matters

BMW's decision to race a station wagon-based model is an unusual move in the world of motorsports, where aerodynamics and weight distribution are critical factors. This unique entry could generate significant interest and attention for the brand, especially as it goes up against more traditional race cars.

The details

The M3 Touring 24H shares the same technical base as BMW's M4 GT3 race car, but the wagon body brings about eight inches of extra length and 1.3 inches of extra height. While the technical data of both race cars is the same, balance-of-performance settings for the 24-hour race will mean the GT3-class coupe and not-quite-GT3-class wagon could have different power levels when they compete on the Nordschleife. The wagon will be competing in the SPX class, and is unlikely to fight directly with BMW's SP9-class GT3 racers for the overall win.

  • Last year, BMW unveiled the M3 Touring race car as an April Fools' Day prank.
  • The idea for a motorsport-focused variant of the wagon had long since been tabled before the prank led to huge social media engagement.
  • BMW then went back to the drawing board and set to actually developing a five-door race car.
  • The M3 Touring 24H is now set to compete in this year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

The players

BMW

A German automaker that is entering the unique M3 Touring race car in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Schubert Motorsport

A BMW-aligned DTM team that is fielding the M3 Touring 24H entry with four factory BMW drivers.

HWA

A company that is entering one of its extreme new 190E-like resto-mods, the EVO.R, in the SPX class alongside the M3 Touring 24H.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Not only did BMW actually build a GT3-like M3 Touring race car, it plans to run the car in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.”

— Fred Smith, Motorsports Editor (roadandtrack.com)

What’s next

The M3 Touring 24H will compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race, where it will face off against other unique entries like HWA's EVO.R in the SPX class.

The takeaway

BMW's decision to race a station wagon-based model is an unusual and bold move in the world of motorsports, showcasing the brand's willingness to think outside the box and generate excitement around its products. This unique entry could help BMW stand out in a crowded field of traditional race cars.