08.07.2025DTM 1987: BMW title with new M3 and Belgian Junior

At the start of its fourth season in 1987, the DTM saw the birth of a legendary racing touring car from BMW. The company near Munich entered its new M3 into the race, thus taking the German Touring Car Championship a step closer to becoming a flagship racing series. What's more, the M3 was extremely successful from the start.

Its four-cylinder 2.3-liter engine, with its characteristic sound, produced around 315 hp. At the same time, the M3 weighed only around 1,000 kilograms. This low weight was a major advantage over its main competitor, Ford, whose Sierra was significantly heavier. Other rivals, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo, still lacked the pace to compete with BMW and Ford.

BMW also had a strong lineup in terms of drivers and teams. The Bavarians had revived the BMW Junior Team, which had already been a huge success in the previous German Racing Championship, ahead of the season. During the screening process, Marc Hessel from Germany and Eric van de Poele from Belgium were selected for the starting line-up. Interestingly, their cars were fielded by the Zakspeed team, which had previously enjoyed success with Ford.

The BMW M3's maiden victory came right at the season opener in Hockenheim. Harald Grohs won the race ahead of the young Eric van de Poele, who immediately secured the first of a total of three podium finishes with second place. Although the Belgian remained winless throughout the entire season, he didn't record a single zero in the ten races. This would pay off, as consistency was key in the points system at the time. At the finale at the Salzburgring, Eric van de Poele celebrated overall victory in the 1987 DTM, concluding the successful debut year of the BMW M3, which won five of the ten races.

For both car and driver, this triumph was just the beginning. In the hands of Roberto Ravaglia, the M3 won another DTM title in 1989 and achieved success in international racing. Eric van de Poele's career even led him to Formula 1. However, he failed to achieve good results there with back-of-the-pack teams in the early 1990s. Later, the Belgian competed in Le Mans, won the 12 Hours of Sebring twice, and, with five overall victories, remains the most successful driver in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

The model of his 1987 DTM-winning car was produced in WERK83's usual high-quality and reflects the original as accurately as possible. The cockpit has been recreated in detail and can be admired thanks to the opening doors. The front wheels are also steerable. The model also comes in a high-quality collector's box.

BMW M3 (E30) #2 DTM Champion 1987 Eric van de Poele 1:18 WERK83, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W18038001C (Collector's Box)

produits

BMW M3 (E30) #2 DTM champion 1987 Eric van de Poele 1:18 WERK83

79,95 €