12.05.2023Carte de France - BMW M1 Art Car Le Mans 1980

Thus, the maximum tank capacity of the race cars for example was reduced to 120 liters and the flow rate of the petrol pumps in the pit lane were reduced to 50 liters per minute. This tripled the time for pit stops and the teams were forced to develop new strategies for the course of the race.

This led to a minimal contingent with which the works teams like Porsche and BMW had entered the race. Only three BMW M1s were represented in the IMSA class, one of which was used as a Bavarian works car, the other two by BMW France and BMW Great Britain only with works support.

Another special feature of this race was the first use of an onboard camera on the WM P 79/80 by Guy Fréquelin and Roger Porchy, which delivered impressive images of the exciting and rainy race live on screens along the route and on home screens. An innovation that would be indispensable in any race broadcast today.

But one tradition remained in this year of change – that of the Art Cars. As early as the 1970s, BMW showed itself in eye-catching paintwork that delighted the public. Probably the best-known art cars were the BMW 320i, designed by artist Roy Lichtenstein in 1977, and the BMW M1 from 1979 with an unmistakably colorful design by Andy Warhol.

Le Mans veteran Marcel Mignot sat behind the wheel of these cars with their eye-catching paintwork on both occasions. In 1980, the Frenchman again took a seat in an Art Car, this time in the M1 presented by BMW France with a “Carte de France” livery. From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the largest roads and BMW branches in the country and of course Le Mans as a highlight on the public's favorite could be admired.

Mignot and his teammates Didier Pironi from Italy and Dieter Quester from Austria managed to drive the conspicuous car in 14th place overall and fourth place in the IMSA category. As the fastest BMW in the class, they were even able to beat the works team from Munich. As an answer to this French "Map Art Car", the "München M1" with the starting number 71 followed in 1981.

For proper Art Car fans, the successful M1 with starting number 83 is available in scale 1:18 true to detail with openable doors and steerable front wheels by WERK83.

BMW M1 Procar #83 24h LeMans 1980 Quester, Pironi, Mignot 1:18 WERK83, RRP €69,95, item-no.: W1803009

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BMW M1 Procar #83 24h LeMans 1980 Quester, Pironi, Mignot 1:18 WERK83

39,95 €