Ultrace 2024: A First Timer’s Journey

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect since this was my first time at Ultrace. But one thing is certain: it far exceeded my expectations. Late Thursday night, I set off from the Netherlands, heading towards Wrocław, Poland, the home of Ultrace since its inception. After a nine-hour drive, I arrived on Friday, and, unable to check into my hotel just yet, I went straight to the event at the Tarczyński Arena Wrocław.

Finding a parking spot, I headed to the press registration center. Luckily, the good folks from Revworks were there to guide me in the right direction. With my press pass and camera in hand, I stepped onto the grounds, and what I saw blew me away. I was literally overwhelmed, spending the first hour just gaping at everything that was already in place.

Friday is the day when the last cars are positioned, and the organizers put the finishing touches on everything. The event officially opens at noon on Saturday, so Friday offered a perfect opportunity to acclimate, especially with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius.

Holyhall’s Zakspeed inspired Ford Capri Mk3

In today’s automotive world, project cars are the bread and butter of many YouTube channels. But not all of them are created equal. Because this Zakspeed inspired Ford Capri Mk3 is something special. 3 years ago the team at Holyhall saw potential in an old, rusty red Ford Capri Mk3. Their goal was to transform it into a Zakspeed look-alike race car, reminiscent of those that raced across European circuits in the early ’80s. Thankfully for us, they succeeded in turning that vision into a reality, which I first witnessed live at the Essen Motor Show in 2023.

The foundation of this masterpiece is a Ford Capri Mk3, though only the doors and roof remain original. The rest of the car is built on a custom-made tube frame chassis, constructed not from CAD drawings but from photographs of the original Zakspeed race cars. This achievement alone is remarkable, but the work didn’t stop there.

Attached to the tube frame chassis is a custom suspension. Through the rear window, you can catch a glimpse of the pushrod rear suspension, featuring components from H&R Suspension. H&R provided a bespoke set specifically for this car, with spring rates and shock absorber characteristics individually matched to the new vehicle weight of 1300 kg.

Gallery: Bimmerfest BMW Enthusiast’s Paradise

Bimmerfest is perhaps the largest car event in Europe exclusively for BMWs. It’s a permanent fixture on my calendar every year. This year was no exception, as I headed to Raceway Venray, Europe’s fastest 1/2 mile oval circuit, armed with an empty memory card and a fully charged camera. The unique location, while thrilling, does demand a pair of good running shoes since you spend half the time standing on the banked track.

As always, certain paddocks were reserved for specific themes. This year featured areas dedicated to Alpina, classics, and a top 10 selected by Z-Performance wheels. Additionally, there’s always space for various BMW clubs, with MFlight likely being the largest. Most members of this club hail from America but are stationed at a US base just across the border in Germany.

A standout car for me was the Twin Turbo V12 E36, which I’ve already posted separately. Another highlight was the E23 7 Series at the H&R booth, complete with a humorous “Arg Teuer” sticker mimicking the Tag Heuer logo. As you can tell, I have a soft spot for the older models. Yet, the M3 Touring, one of BMW’s newer models, also caught my eye and, yes, even with those large kidney grilles.

BMW M2 GT and M1000R – A Legendary Tribute

I rarely feature motorcycles, but when I do, it has to be something that complements the BMW M2 GT built by GP Products. This M2 is crafted in the style of the legendary E36 M3 GT, and the BMW M1000R bike shares the same distinctive accents. That means plenty of carbon fiber and the iconic British Racing Green from the original E36 M3 GT. This duo was spotted at the recent Bimmerfest 2024 in Holland.

The E36 M3 GT holds a near-mythical status among BMW enthusiasts. Introduced in 1994 as a homologation model for the FIA GT Series, only 356 units were produced, all painted in British Racing Green. The BMW M3 GT featured a 3.0L inline-six engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 323 Nm of torque, propelling the car from 0-100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds. This performance was achieved through the use of different throttle bodies, special camshafts, and a higher compression ratio.

Now, this M2 “GT” G87 built by GP Products, a modern homage to the E36 M3 GT. The most striking feature is undoubtedly the instantly recognizable British Racing Green. Additionally, the wheels are styled like the original Motorsport wheels, though they have been painted in a striking copper/gold color.

BMW V12 LMR: The 24 hours of Le Mans Victory

Can BMW repeat their monumental win like they did in 1999? We will have to wait and see.

The #15 on their M Hybrid V8 in this years race was given this racing number as a tribute to the 1999 winner seen above.

When the BMW V12 LMR arrived at the Circuit de la Sarthe in June 1999, it faced fierce competition. BMW entered two V12 LMRs in the race, with one driven by the formidable trio of Yannick Dalmas, Pierluigi Martini, and Joachim Winkelhock. The second car, driven by Jörg Müller, Tom Kristensen, and JJ Lehto, was equally strong but would face challenges.

As the race unfolded, the V12 LMR demonstrated not just speed but remarkable reliability. The car driven by Dalmas, Martini, and Winkelhock maintained a relentless pace, handling the rigors of Le Mans with impressive consistency. Meanwhile, the second car encountered mechanical issues, highlighting the unpredictable nature of endurance racing.

After 24 hours of intense racing, the BMW V12 LMR piloted by Dalmas, Martini, and Winkelhock emerged victorious, completing 366 laps. This triumph marked BMW’s first overall victory at Le Mans, a monumental achievement that underscored the V12 LMR’s exceptional design and performance.

BMW E36 V12 Turbo: Ultimate Showstopper

At Bimmerfest 2024, there was one car that genuinely took my breath away. While there were plenty of stunning vehicles on display, nothing quite like this BMW E36 had ever crossed my path. This car is the perfect showcase of what can be achieved when passion meets craftsmanship. Built by Unlimited Auto in Weiden, Germany, it’s a marvel that demonstrates their unparalleled expertise.

Under the hood lies an M70 engine that definitely didn’t came as standard on the E36. The M70 was BMW’s first production V12, which was produced from 1987 to 1996 and could be found in the E32 750iL for example. As if that weren’t impressive enough, they’ve added not one, but two turbochargers. The result is a mechanical masterpiece that blends power and precision.

I had a brief chat with the owner, who proudly shared that a recent test saw the car producing a staggering 1012 horsepower and 1182 Nm of torque. The challenge now is getting these insane figures onto the road, as even in third gear, it creates white smoke from the 305 wide rear tires. The next step, he mentioned, is to equip the car with slick tires to better harness its immense power.

Close Encounter with the Kremer Porsche 935 K3

With the upcoming 24hrs of Le Mans that starts on the 15th of June I was thinking about this Kremer K3. I’ve had the privilege of examining different Kremer Porsche 935 K3 up close many times. But never quite like this. During the “International Club Day of Porsche Friends” in Dinslaken, Kremer Racing had their own stand, and this car was the highlight of the day. As visitors, we were even lucky enough to hear the engine roar to life, experiencing it in all its glory.

The K3 Porsches come in many forms and variants, making it tough to judge a K3 purely by its appearance. Thankfully, as photographers, we often have a cheat sheet by the car with all the essential details. Unfortunately, Kremer was brief in this case, so I can’t confirm what kind of racing history this particular car has.

What I do know is that this is a Porsche 935 K3/80. The number 80 corresponds to the specifications of that year—1980, in this case. Each year, the Group 5 regulations were reviewed and adjusted as necessary. The yearly adjustment of the regulations meant that Kremer Racing had to modify their cars every season to stay competitive. This constant evolution was a hallmark of their engineering prowess. The relentless pursuit of perfection kept Kremer Racing at the forefront of motorsport, adapting and innovating to meet the ever-changing demands of the racing world.

A Vision in Mint Green: BMW M3 G81 Touring

If you could choose, which BMW Individual color would you order for your new BMW?

JP Kraemer had a clear vision for his BMW M3 G81 Touring, and he opted for a striking mint green. On his YouTube channel, you can follow the journey from the grand unveiling at BMW Welt to the present day. If have seen all the videos but this was my first encounter with the car in the flesh.

The car was parked right in front of JP Performance’s headquarters in Dortmund, about a two-hour drive from where I live. I was visiting the Pace Museum, also founded by JP Kraemer, but more on that later. After my museum visit, I decided to check out the Big Boost Burger restaurant, situated just across from the headquarters. And there it was, the BMW M3 Touring, demanding attention.

Perhaps the most extraordinary feature isn’t even the mint green exterior but rather the entirely purple interior. This bespoke upholstery job was executed by Zettl, a company renowned for its expertise in re-upholstering car interiors to such a high standard that major automakers seek them out for custom interiors.