Mercedes Refused To Take BMW Seriously, Until BMW Built The M1 To Humiliate Them

Mercedes Refused To Take BMW Seriously, Until BMW Built The M1 To Humiliate Them In 1978, Mercedes-Benz didn't think BMW belonged in the same conversation as Europe's elite sports car makers. BMW had never built a mid-engined car in its history — so when they set out to create one anyway, most of the German auto establishment assumed it would fail. This is the story of the BMW M1: a homologation project born out of racing rules, nearly killed by Lamborghini's financial collapse, designed by legendary stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro, and ultimately saved by a bold decision — put the car on the same stage as Formula 1 itself, with drivers like Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, and a young Ayrton Senna behind the wheel. Only 453 units were ever built. But the M1 became the car that started BMW Motorsport's M division — the badge that still defines BMW's fastest cars today. #BMW #BMWM1 #Mercedes #BMWMotorsport #Giugiaro #AutomotiveHistory #CarHistory #ProcarChampionship #AyrtonSenna #NikiLauda #NelsonPiquet #ClassicCars #Supercars #GermanEngineering #CarLegends #Motorsport #BMWM #Homologation #Lamborghini #CarDocumentary