10 replies to this topic

[koepchenfan]

Hello,

Most people say that the BMW 02 serie (1502, 1602, 1802, 2002, and ti, tii variants) was very sucessfull in racing in the active years of the production (1965-1977). But except a few examples (etcc 1968, 1969, german rally champ 1970) I haven't seen any other major serie won by the factory / tuner / private cars.

So I would like to if any BMW 02 serie car ever won any full year serie in the 1965-1977 in any country.

Thank you.

[Frank de Jong]

The cars were not often raced outside Germany, but Hegels won the DARM championship in 1970 (forerunner of the DRM/DTM) and Rosser won the rundstreckenpokal in 1972, both in a 1602. And Obermoser just missed the DRM championship on a number of occasions.

Edited by Frank de Jong, 28 December 2009 - 10:37.

[Stephen W]

The cars were not often raced outside Germany

I seem to recollect reading reports of the European Touring Car championship events of that period and seeing photos in Autosport/Motoring News of BMWs taking part in these races - am I mistaken?

[Frank de Jong]

Yes, but that was mainly ETCC 1968/1969 which koepchenfan already mentioned. Thereafter there was no regular top-02 entry in the ETCC, only in selected rounds in Germany and Austria, unlike Zakspeed who ran complete championships (and won one).

[Stephen W]

Hello,

Most people say that the BMW 02 serie (1502, 1602, 1802, 2002, and ti, tii variants) was very sucessfull in racing in the active years of the production (1965-1977). But except a few examples (etcc 1968, 1969, german rally champ 1970) I haven't seen any other major serie won by the factory / tuner / private cars.

So I would like to if any BMW 02 serie car ever won any full year serie in the 1965-1977 in any country.

Thank you.

Yes, but that was mainly ETCC 1968/1969 which koepchenfan already mentioned. Thereafter there was no regular top-02 entry in the ETCC, only in selected rounds in Germany and Austria, unlike Zakspeed who ran complete championships (and won one).

Didn't actually spot the reference with it being in lower case.

Perhaps I should read all posts twice in future.

[David McKinney]

Ernst Furtmayr won the touring-car section of the EMC three times, at least twice in a 2002Ti

[RS2000]

Achim Warmbold's BMW team in 72/3 were "contenders" at the highest level of rallying. The TAP win in 72 should have gone down as a world championship victory...if there had been a championship before 73. Bjorn Waldegaard was "thereabouts" on the 73(?) RAC Rally...before they had to cut down the tree the car ended up in.
Like others, a full-blooded, unqualified factory effort over a sustained period might have made it a period to be remembered...or was it a bit too heavy for the power available and the rear end was never developed to its full potential advantage on the loose?

Edited by RS2000, 29 December 2009 - 11:35.

[Jesper O. Hansen]

I think part of the issue was the fact that some BMW entrants would prefer a car for overall succcess and choose the bigger CSLs rather than the class winning -02 series for Group 2 circuit racing. That in it self would compromise the success rate of the -02 and the fact that it was in direct class competition with the BDA Escort from late 1970 wouldn't have helped.

Here in Denmark Sven Engstrøm won group 1 titles in 1970 with a 2002 Ti and the 1972 title with a 2002 Tii. Group 5 and 2 2002s were race winners here, but always seemed to loose out to Porsche 911s and Ford Escort TC or BDAs in terms of championships. Besides the group 1 cars had to battle Chevrolet Camaros in some years!

The 2002 seems to have had some succes in rallying in Denmark in both Group 1 and 2 versions, but my details are a bit sketchy. Erik Berth even had a 2002 Turbo going very well I think.

Jesper

[Frank de Jong]

As Jesper said, the Escort BDA from 1971 onwards was a car that was superior to the 02 with its lower weight and 16-valve head. Only in 1973 a 16-valve head was homologated (2 different ones even!) which was targeted at F2 rather than touring cars; there may have been about 5 16-valve BMW's in Germany 1973-1976, I wouldn't know a single one outside Germany. And still that car was heavier than the Escort.
But the 02 was the perfect privateer car; reliable and easy to tune.

[Rosemayer]

Frank knows best but here are some in pictures.

http://www.racingspo...r-Basche-D.html

http://www.racingspo...o/BMW/2002.html

Edited by Rosemayer, 29 December 2009 - 18:43.

[koepchenfan]

Thank you for the informations. Have you got any info about the north europe (sweden, finland, norway) or south europe (italy, grece, etc), and usa/canada and south america success (if there was any...) ?