The evolution of BMW turbo engines in competition

BMW celebrates 50 years of turbocharged engines in racing, from the 2002 BMW 1969 TI to the current MBW M4 DTM engine.

Five decades of turbo engines in competition . We review the history of BMW's most important racing cars that have used turbocharged engines, from the first BMW 2002 TI of 1969 to the new M4 in the DTM, without forgetting the brand's participation as an engine supplier in Formula 1.

2002 BMW 1969 TI: The M121 Engine

It was the first in a long history of success. The BMW 2002 TI with which Austrian Dieter Quester won the European Touring Car Championship was equipped with a 2-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produced 280 hp at 6.500 rpm. The turbocharger was capable of delivering a boost pressure of almost 1,8 bar , but it was limited to 0,98 bar to ensure reliability.

BMW 2002 Engine

BMW 3.0 CSL from 1976: M49/4 engine

BMW Motorsport engineers needed weeks to assemble the car that would debut at Silverstone. And in 1976, the BMW 3.0 CSL , with a 3,2-liter turbocharged engine producing 750 hp at 9.000 rpm, already competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

BMW 320 Group 5 from 1977: M12/12 engine

BMW was already achieving 400 hp from a 4-cylinder engine with the M12/12, the engine that powered the Schnitzer Motorsport BMW 320 Group 5 in 1977. Subsequently, an evolution of this engine developed by Paul Rosche and his team reached 500 hp in 1979.

1 BMW M5 Group 1979: M88/2 engine

The spectacular BMW M1 reached 1.000 hp in 1979 in its Group 5 racing version. However, homologation of the car was delayed until 1981, and during those years the Group 4 M1 Procar used the naturally aspirated M88/1 engine. Finally, with Group 5 specifications, the M1 driven by Hans Stuck achieved victory at the Norisring in 1981.

BMW M1

Brabham BMW (1981-1987): M12/13 engine

Paul Rosche developed one of the most impressive engines in Formula 320 history based on the BMW 5 Group 1 engine. The 1,5-litre engine, which produced 560 hp on its debut in 1981, was able to almost triple its output in a very short time. In 1982, he scored his first F1 victory with Nelson Piquet. A year later, the Brabham BMW BT52 became the F1 world champion.

Brabham BT52

In this car, the M12/13/1 engine reached 640 hp in the race and, with a turbo boost pressure of 2,9 bar, its qualifying specification reached 1.400 hp , becoming the most powerful engine used to date in Formula 1.

MINI WRC and BMW 320 TC WTCC (2011-2012): P14 and P13 engines

BMW ended its Formula 1 run in 2011. Shortly before, the motorsport department developed a new turbocharged engine, based on the production 4-cylinder engine from the Mini Cooper S. Internally designated P14, this engine was used in the Mini Countryman WRC and in the BMW 320 TC of the WTCC World Touring Car Championship as the P13. With a displacement of just 1,6 liters, the production engine block underwent the necessary modifications to withstand a power increase, ultimately generating up to 320 hp.

6 BMW M3 GT2016: P63 engine

Another racing engine based on the production engine, in this case the P63. The 8-litre twin-turbo V4,4 from BMW Motorsport delivered 585 hp. The combination of this engine in the body of the M6 ​​GT2 continues to bring success, including victory at the 24 Hours of Spa.

BMW M6 GT3

BMW M8 GTE from 2018: P63/1 Engine

To comply with IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship regulations, the M6 ​​GT3's engine was upgraded to the P63/1 version, with its displacement reduced to 4 liters. Of the 2.300 parts that make up the engine, 181 are exclusive and 770 were developed specifically for this powerplant, which delivers between 500 and 600 hp depending on the racing category . It is BMW Motorsport's most efficient racing engine to date. Among its greatest achievements is the GTLM class victory at the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona.

BMW M8 GTE

4 BMW M2019 DTM: P48 engine

Exactly 50 years after its first turbocharged racing engine, the DTM is returning to turbocharged engines this season. And BMW is going back to its roots with the BMW M4 DTM, featuring a powerful 4-cylinder turbo engine. Now, five decades later, the power output reaches over 600 hp, with turbocharger boost pressures of up to 2,5 bar . This engine is not only more powerful than the one previously used by BMW in the DTM, but it is also significantly lighter and more fuel-efficient.

BMW M4 DTM