BMW M3 Touring 24H Debut and ROWE Racing Victory at NLS

BMW M3 Touring 24H makes its race debut at Nürburgring NLS, as BMW M Motorsport reports strong results and ROWE Racing takes victory after disqualification.

BMW secured an unexpected victory at the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie season opener, as the ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO was promoted to first place after a post-race disqualification of the Mercedes crew featuring Max Verstappen. Alongside that result, another story unfolded on the Nordschleife — the racing debut of the BMW M3 Touring 24H.

The appearance of a touring model on one of the world’s most demanding circuits immediately drew attention. Lining up against GT3 machinery, the car not only completed the race but finished 13th overall and won the SPX class. This category is reserved for experimental and non-standard vehicles, highlighting the unique nature of the project.

In front of 25,000 spectators, the race reflected the typical scale of the NLS, which regularly features over a hundred cars across multiple classes. The series serves as a key preparation ground for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where teams gather mileage, refine setups and adapt drivers to the challenges of the Nordschleife — widely known as the “Green Hell”.

The BMW M3 Touring 24H is based on the M4 GT3 EVO, sharing its core chassis and suspension architecture. During its debut, the car showed consistent performance, stable balance and no major technical issues, delivering a pace comparable to established GT3 cars. Yokohama tyres were also tested as part of the programme under race conditions.

The return of Schubert Motorsport to the Nordschleife added further significance. The team not only introduced a new concept car but also collected essential data ahead of the 24-hour race. In this context, the result represents more than a finishing position — it confirms the viability of the concept in real competition.

The debut of the M3 Touring 24H demonstrates that even within tightly regulated endurance racing, there is still room for unconventional ideas. The SPX class and the NLS structure allow such projects to compete, potentially shaping preparation strategies for larger events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours.