BMW 320 TC

Lore & Background

The BMW 320 TC was developed from the BMW 320si WTCC, which had secured Andy Priaulx the World Touring Car Championship for BMW in 2006 and 2007. Over 60 models have been delivered by BMW Motorsport Distribution. The car was designed to comply with the new Super 2000 regulations introduced in 2011, which included the Super 2000 Kit Variant package allowing teams to change engines to 1600 ccm turbocharged units. BMW Motorsport manufactured their own version of this new engine, the P13, based on the N13B16, and made it available for purchase to customer racing teams from 2011.

The car's self-supporting body is manufactured in BMW Plant Regensburg alongside production body shells for the BMW 1 and 3 Series. Compared to the production BMW E90 model, the axles and suspension geometry were significantly changed. The new axle design includes a camber setting that can be adjusted independently of other parameters such as roll center and track, making the axles easier for semi-professional teams to set up. Track width and camber were increased, while the wheel carrier and bearing were carried over from the production model.

The BMW 320 TC won five races in the WTCC. Its first victory was achieved by Franz Engstler in Race 2 of the 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Germany. The second victory came at the 2011 FIA WTCC Race of Japan by Tom Coronel. Norbert Michelisz took the third win in front of his home crowd at the 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Hungary. The fourth and fifth victories came in 2012 at the FIA WTCC Race of Austria and the FIA WTCC Race of Japan, both when Stefano D'Aste took the checkered flag in Race 2.

Reader's Guide

The BMW 320 TC represents a significant shift in BMW's touring car strategy, moving from a factory program to a customer-racing model after the 2010 season. Its development from the championship-winning 320si WTCC ensured a competitive foundation, while the adoption of the Super 2000 Kit Variant package allowed it to remain relevant under new regulations. The car's design emphasized ease of setup for semi-professional teams, with independently adjustable camber settings and simplified axle geometry, making it accessible to a wider range of entrants. Over 60 units were delivered, indicating substantial uptake among privateer teams. The car's five WTCC victories, achieved by four different drivers across multiple seasons and continents, demonstrate its competitiveness in the hands of customer teams. The BMW 320 TC thus served as a bridge between BMW's factory dominance in the late 2000s and the continued presence of BMW machinery in the WTCC through independent entries, maintaining the brand's presence in the championship without direct factory support.

Did You Know?

• The BMW 320 TC is a further development of the BMW 320si WTCC, with which Andy Priaulx won the World Touring Car Championship in 2006 and 2007.
• Its engine, the P13, is based on the N13B16 and is a 1.6 litre DI-turbo four-cylinder.