Ask Jan Lammers to name his favourite racing car, and surprisingly, he doesn’t choose any of the Formula 1 machines he’s raced or tested. This includes the world championship-winning Lotus 79. Even the Toyota TS010 3.5-litre Group C car, which he describes as “the fastest thing I ever drove,” doesn’t top his list. For Lammers, the BMW M1 Procar takes the crown. It’s a machine in which he not only competed but also triumphed in the F1-support series that many consider the greatest one-make championship of all time.
Jan Lammers: A Veteran’s Perspective
“It’s everything about that car, the series and the time,” Lammers explains. A veteran of 23 Grand Prix races and 24 starts at Le Mans, he has fond memories of the BMW M1 Procar. “It was the engine and the gearing of the car, the way it handled – it was such a joy to drive and really suited my style.” His enthusiasm for this car extends beyond its engineering marvels; it also suited his racing technique perfectly.
A Season to Remember
Lammers’ memorable Procar season began with a spectacular victory right out of the gate at Donington Park in April 1980, where he secured pole position. However, near misses at Avus and Monaco left a bittersweet taste. At Avus, a freak incident involving his fire extinguisher cost him the victory. However, it was the Monaco race that remains a notable memory—a moment of intense competition dashed by a bump from Didier Pironi.
The Monaco Misadventure
Lammers recalls leading the race under wet conditions before braking early at Mirabeau, only to be “torpedoed” by Pironi. “He just launched into the back of me,” recalls Lammers of the Ligier F1 driver’s aggressive move. Pironi was driving one of the entries designated for the top five Goodyear-shod F1 qualifiers in the Procar series, similar cars racing alongside the F1 circuit.
The bump sent Lammers over the high kerbs, resulting in a damaged suspension. “I realised straight away that my suspension was broken,” he says. He admits he briefly considered revenge at the next corner, but the manoeuvre proved futile, ending up with him in the wall. “My team asked why I ended up driving into the wall. I couldn’t tell the real reason, of course!” Lammers adds with a chuckle.
The Chance of Victory Evaporates at Avus
At round two in Avus, an internal disaster struck when his cockpit extinguisher went off while he was leading. “It was because we’d blocked all the ducting into the driver compartment for top speed on the long straights,” he explains. Disorientated, he fell back but battled to regain second place. Chasing down Manfred Schurti, who was nursing a puncture, he was caught off-guard by Schurti’s slow speed approaching the final corner, ending yet another race with a narrowly missed victory.
The Physical Demands of Procar Racing
The races themselves were physically demanding and thrilling, which is part of what Lammers relished about the series. The Procar series offered drivers the rare opportunity to demonstrate their talents in equally matched machinery, a stark contrast to the performance differences often seen in Formula 1. For Lammers, who was competing in Formula 1 with ATS at the time, the Procar races were a chance to prove his skills in front of prominent teams and audiences alike.
Lammers’ adventures in the BMW M1 Procar series showcase a mix of technical skill, sheer will, and a touch of humour. His experiences are a testament to the era’s excitement and the vehicles that defined an exhilarating chapter in racing history.
