BMW at Amelia Island Concours 2016

Photography by Imraan Shameem

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2016 was held March 10-13th on Amelia Island, Florida. It's one of the most premiere car shows in the world with more than 300 cars and motorcycles on display. The 21st Annual Event honored legendary race driver Hans-Joachim Stuck.

He is a two-time Le Mans–winner, triple Sebring 12 hour-winner, and 1985 World Sports Car Champion. Hans is best known for racing Formula 1, Formula 2, touring cars, and sports cars. A selection of Stuck's former race cars were on display at the event including a few CSLs; E46 M3 GTR's; M1's; 700RS; E24 635CSi; LeMans E53 X5; Porsche's; Audi's; and Brabham-Alfa Romeo.

With only six road car versions ever made, it's very rare to see the E46 M3 GTR in person. In 2001, BMW wanted to take down Porsche but the S54 inline-six engine was no match. So they developed a new 4 litre 500hp V8. Due to the rule book being so loosely worded, they were able to get away with only making a small amount of road cars (10 were ordered). The V8/E46 combination dominated the ALMS that year. But because they didn't offer the V8 in a mass produced road car, Porsche complained so they changed the rules for 2002. It stated that they would need to sell 100 cars and 1000 units of the V8 engine; something that was not feasible. So BMW did not return for the following year and ceased production of the road cars after the sixth was built. The E46 M3 GTR race cars did go on to race with great success in Europe however. What a great piece of BMW Motorsport history.

The E24 635CSi "Jagermeister" ETCC Group A 1984 #6 race car was another iconic classic piloted by Hans.

And then there was the one-off monster E53 X5 Le Mans. Packing a Le Mans V12 race engine under the hood producing 700 hp. It was capable of 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds and topped out at 193 mph. If that's not impressive enough, Hans was able to get it around the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 50 seconds.