Every year since 2024, the Tour de Corse Historique appoints a ‘spotlight’ or ‘feature car’ that serves as the centerpiece for the classic rally’s promotional material and merchandise. For 2026, the honor belongs to the BMW M3 E30.

The M3 was introduced in 1986, ergo making the selection one to celebrate the 40th anniversary, for pavement racing like DTM and the Spa 24 Hours. In 1987, Eric van de Poele won the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft championship as well as the Spa 24 Hours in the M3, the latter alongside Jean-Michel Martin and Didier Theys.

The car would claim Spa’s premier endurance event three more times in 1988 (Altfrid Heger, Dieter Quester, Roberto Ravaglia), 1990 (Johnny Cecotto, Fabien Giroix, Markus Oestreich), and 1992 (Martin, Christian Danner, Steve Soper). The E30 specifically also starred at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with overall victories every year from 1989 to 1992 and in 1994 with drivers like Giroix, Emanuele Pirro, Roberto Ravaglia (1989); Heger, Frank Schmickler, and Joachim Winkelhock (1990); Winkelhock, Armin Hahne, and Kris Nissen (1991); Cecotto, Danner, Martin, and Marc Duez (1992); and Frank Katthöfer, Fred Rosterg, and Karl-Heinz Wlazik (1994). Later success at the Nürburgring came with other variants like the E36 and GTR.

While mainly known for its touring and sports car successes, Prodrive built an E30 for rally purposes. Bernard Béguin drove the E30 to it and his lone World Rally Championship triumph at the 1987 Tour de Corse in snowy conditions, beating Lancia and taking advantage of Renault’s Jean Ragnotti going off course late to win.

The M3 continued to see rally success in France’s national championship, which François Chatriot won in 1989 and 1990. More recently, Olivier Capanaccia won the 2025 TdCH in one.

“It’s one of the best‑represented cars every year,” TdCH head Marie-Ange Dini stated. “But you never get tired of watching it go by, because it’s one of the most spectacular machines. You never get tired of hearing it, because it’s also one of the most melodic.”

The Lancia 037 was the TdCH’s feature car in 2024, while 2025‘s was the Renault R5 Turbo.

Featured image credit: Dominik Angerer / Red Bull Content Pool