A truck participates in one of the toughest 24-hour races in the world

But the NLS has multiple classes, from low-powered models similar to the Golf GTI it used to race to GT3s, plus a display class called SPX for things that don’t fit elsewhere. It is in this last category that the M3 Touring 24H, driven by Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde and two American BMW factory drivers, Connor De Phillippi and Neil Verhagen, will participate.

“There has never been a project like the BMW M3 Touring 24H at BMW M Motorsport before,” said Andreas Roos, Director of BMW M Motorsport. “Many thanks to everyone who put their heart and soul into this unique car and brought it to life. I am excited and at the same time I am sure that our fans, who are never closer to us than in our second home at the Nürburgring, will be just as excited. I promise all fans a great show and I look forward to a superlative event.”

Any 24-hour race is difficult, and a 24-hour race on one of the most challenging circuits in the world is much more difficult. But regardless of where the M3 Touring 24H ends up, it will find itself among a very select group of racing trucks. The most famous, as some of you will be shouting at your screens, was the Volvo 850 Estate with which Volvo UK entered the British Touring Car Championship in 1994.

The 1994 Volvo 850 Estate BTCC is perhaps the most famous racing estate.

Credit: Volvo

Back then, the BTCC was just entering its purple phase as the most competitive touring car series in the world, with massive budgets and technology that would rival F1. The Volvo station wagon was fast enough not to be embarrassed and became a fan favorite thanks to its sheer extravagance, although the following year it was replaced by an 850 sedan after the BTCC changed some aerodynamic rules.

As for the N24, if you’re a motorsports fan, it’s worth attending at least once, as hundreds of thousands of German enthusiasts flock to drink beer and build viewing platforms in the forests surrounding the nearly 16 miles (25.4 km) of race track. Unfortunately, although the organizers are quite permissive about what they will let in, they rejected a request from Rauh Racing to get into a Renault Twingo. Well, we’ll have to settle for the M3 Touring 24H.