BMW M3 a l’Honneur in Corsica
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The BMW M3 E30 may have become a legend as a touring car of the Group A era, but after Lancia in 2024 and Renault in 2025, it is now the turn of a German marque to take centre stage on the model’s 40th birthday, when this year’s Tour de Corse Historique pays tribute to its exploits in rallying, and its success despite its rear wheel drive configuration, against the likes of the the mighty Lancia Delta Integrale.
In 1987, Prodrive was commissioned by BMW France to build an M3 for Bernard Béguin to drive in the Tour de Corse. The French driver led from the start, but when snow and hail hit the Col de la Vaccia when he was on slicks, he thought his chance of success was over. However, he held on to win the car’s one and only World Rally Championship event after Jean Ragnotti failed to finish.
Photo BMW
“From the very first tests in January 1987, I immediately knew it was a good car,” remembers Béguin. “It had been designed for circuit racing, but it proved easy to develop for rallying thanks to its generous suspension travel. The victory at the 1987 Tour de Corse remains the greatest moment of my driving career. But I still regret not having competed in a full WRC season with the BMW M3. We had the ultimate weapon on Tarmac, and five of the 13 championship rallies were on fast-flowing surfaces. David Richards thought he had convinced the decision-makers in Munich, but unfortunately, the board changed its mind at the last minute, fearing a BMW might struggle in the snow. Ironically, the 1988 Monte-Carlo was completely dry.”
The BMW M3 E30 has gone on to become extremely popular in Historic rallying, with 40 on the 2025 Tour de Corse Historique entry list, one of which, driven by Olivier Capanaccia, took the overall win.
The Tour de Corse Historique, which takes place this year on October 3-10, hosts several categories. There are three Historic Competition Vehicles classes: Historic Competition Cars from 1947-1987 with HTP; Classic Competition Cars from 1977-1990 with a three-part passport; and Competition Cars from the J2 Period of 1988-1992 with HTP. There’s also a class for Historic Regularity Vehicles for cars built up
take a second to 1996, with four average speeds to choose from. The Legend class, meanwhile, is a demonstration class for iconic rally cars from 1947 onwards.
The rally programme includes eight days in total – two for administrative and technical checks, one day for a shakedown and five days of competition. Each contains five stages of around 200km each across Corsica, including 18 special stages on closed roads, 380km of it on timed sections.
Winner overall in 2025, Olivier Capanaccia will put his title on the line this year. In five participations, the Corsican from Porto-Vecchio has always shown exceptional competitiveness: Third in 2020 and second in 2023, he was forced to retire with engine failure in 2022 while leading. There’s no doubt he’ll be a contender again this year, whatever car he chooses to drive. “Winning the Tour de Corse Historique was a goal, a dream, for a very long time. Now it’s done, but I’m not satisfied yet! Honestly, I’d now like to win in the VHC category with a car a little older than my BMW M3. In short, my entry is confirmed, but I still don’t know what car I’ll be driving!”
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