Tag: motorsport

The Rebel Benz: Helmut Marko’s 1989 EVO1 Saga

In the annals of motorsport, few stories encapsulate the mix of ambition, ingenuity, and controversy quite like this one. Long before Dr. Helmut Marko became the architect behind Red Bull Racing’s dominance in Formula 1, he was stirring the pot in another prestigious racing series: the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM).

The year was 1988. Dr. Marko was running his own DTM team, fielding a pair of Mercedes-Benz 190Es. The cars were driven by Jörg van Ommen, a capable wheelman rivaling the factory-backed squads, and Franz Klammer, the legendary skier-turned-racer. For a privateer operation, the results were stellar. Van Ommen was pushing the works Mercedes team hard, earning admiration — and perhaps some resentment from the Mercedes-Benz factory team.

Helmut Marko

Behind the scenes, Mercedes-Benz was preparing to launch a game-changing evolution of its 190E race car for the 1989 season. Dubbed the 2.5L EVO1, the upgrade featured a larger, more powerful engine and significant aerodynamic enhancements. It was designed to take the fight to BMW, and anyone else daring to challenge Mercedes’ dominance.

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BMW 3.0 CSL: Lightweight Legend of Racing

The BMW 3.0 CSL is undoubtedly a legendary race car, but what exactly makes it so legendary? During a recent visit to the Pace Museum earlier this year, I came face to face with this iconic BMW. But more on the Pace Museum in another post – I’ll be revisiting soon, as they’ve refreshed their collection once again.

For many, this car is known as the Batmobile. The BMW 3.0 CSL earned this moniker thanks to its distinctive aerodynamic features, including large spoilers and air dams, designed to enhance high-speed stability. Its aggressive styling and imposing rear wing give it a futuristic, Batmobile-like appearance that’s hard to forget.

bmw 3.0 csl

Originally developed as a homologation special to allow BMW to compete in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), the 3.0 CSL quickly proved its mettle on the track. One particular car, the car you see here on the photos, made history in 1973 when it won the Nürburgring 6 hours with drivers Chris Amon and Hans-Joachim Stuck behind the wheel according to Group 2 regulations.

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