1981 JPS BMW 635 GROUP C TOURING CAR

A piece of history from Sandown Hang Ten 400 introduced by the late Leo Geoghegan 1981 Allan Grice the team was born out of Allan Grice's Craven Mild Racing which had run Holden Torana's and Holden Commodore's in the mid to late 1970s and into 1980. In 1981 CMR became the factory operation for BMW Australia running a Group C version of the 3.5 litre, 6cyl, BMW 635 CSi. The car would have a new paint scheme as well with the red, white and gold of Craven Mild replaced by the black and gold of John Player & Sons. Over the next seven seasons the sinister looking black BMW's would become one of the most recognisable cars in Australian Touring Car Racing, with the 635 often used in adverts by both BMW Australia and sponsors JPS in the days before the government ban on Tobacco advertising in Australia.  For 1981, Allan Grice was the teams lead driver in the 635 CSi. Grice finished 2nd in the Amaroo Park based AMSCAR Series for cars with a maximum engine capacity of 3.5 litres (which excluded the V8 Commodores and Ford Falcons), and then went on to finish 7th in the crash shortened James Hardie 1000 partnered by British sports car driver David Hobbs. The relationship between Grice and Gardner had deteriorated during their six-year association which led to Gricey's removal from the team at the end of 1981 (most of the animosity was from Gardner allegedly not having a high opinion of Grice's aggressive driving style with Gardner preferring a more sensible approach. However, in many ways Grice's style was ahead of its time in Australia).  

The JPS Team BMW 635 CSI Group C is a storied vehicle with deep roots in racing history, captivating race car enthusiasts worldwide. This iconic car was originally built by BMW Motorsport for the European Touring Car Championship in 1980, where it was campaigned by a dedicated privateer team.

In early 1981, Allan Grice Racing acquired the car with significant support from BMW Australia and substantial financial backing from John Player. The car was then transformed into a Group C specification, adorned in a sleek black colour with striking gold logos. This transformation marked the beginning of BMW's first official foray into Australian motorsport, a move overseen by the legendary Frank Gardiner.

At the time, the BMW 635 CSI was a dominant force in European racing, clinching numerous victories in the 1981 season. However, this success came with its own challenges. The JPS team faced a hefty 200kg weight penalty before their first race, making the 3.5-litre BMW one of the heaviest cars on the track at 1450kg, matched only by the 5.7-litre Falcon XD.

Despite the weight disadvantage, the JPS Team BMW 635 CSI Group C remains a celebrated piece of motorsport history, revered for its engineering excellence and the competitive spirit it embodied. This car not only marked a significant chapter in BMW's racing heritage but also left an indelible mark on Australian motorsport.

Image from Australian Muscle Car

 UP CLOSE: The Group C BMW That Almost Never Was – The Race Torque