Condor Articles

Discover the remarkable career of Hans-Joachim Stuck, one of motorsport’s most versatile and charismatic racing drivers. From his early days racing the Nürburgring Nordschleife to victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours, Formula 1, IMSA, and the legendary BMW M1 Procar Series, Stuck built a reputation for speed, courage, and versatility. This first part of his story explores his rise as a BMW factory driver, his relationship with Jochen Neerpasch, and the defining races that established Hans-Joachim Stuck as a true icon of international motorsport.

Underneath its understated styling, the E12 featured sophisticated multi-link front suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a curb weight of roughly 3,200 pounds. In six-cylinder form, it was powered by BMW’s robust M30 inline-six engine, capable of producing up to 180 horsepower. The combination of balance, durability, and straight-line performance quickly caught the attention of touring car teams across Europe.

As a follow-up to our recent merch release and Group A E30 M3 write-up, we recently had the pleasure of interviewing Phillipp Kennewell, who is the current owner of the Team Kalaschek Group A/DTM E30 M3. Philipp is a great, down-to-earth guy who simply loves racing and has an awesome approach, similar to the vehicle’s original owner, Hans Kalischek. His recollections of the car’s history and restoration process offer amazing insight into what it’s like to achieve the lifelong dream of owning such an iconic piece of automotive history.

At its peak in popularity, it’s hard to overstate just how important touring car racing was to motorsport enthusiasts. In the 1980’s and 90’s, series like the DTM, BTCC, ITCC and ETCC held a place in racing fans’ hearts rivaling even Formula 1. Manufacturers such as Mercedes, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, Audi and Ford all fielded factory teams in that time period, battling for supremacy against perhaps the most iconic touring car brand of all time, BMW.