BMW M1 Procar Donington Park – Unsilenced Track Day
Report by Graham Atkinson Photography
19 May 2026
I rarely attend normal track days. The only events that truly grab my attention are the RMA unsilenced test and track days at Donington Park. Living close to the circuit gives me access to something very few UK tracks still offer.
Donington remains the only MSV circuit that regularly allows unsilenced running on selected Tuesdays and Thursdays. These events create a completely different atmosphere from a standard track day.
Instead of rows of modified road cars, the paddock fills with serious machinery. Porsche GT3s dominate the garages, while Lamborghinis and Ferraris appear throughout the day. The real excitement, however, comes from the smaller group of rare race cars.
On this occasion the paddock included Ligier MP3s, an Aston Martin, a Lola T70 Spyder, a Lister Storm, a Jaguar Supercat V12, and several other incredible machines. Three cars stood out above everything else. They also happened to be the loudest cars at Donington that day. A BMW M1 Procar, 1974 Chevrolet Corvette 454 and a NASCAR Toyota Camry.
BMW M1 Procar Donington Park
The first car immediately grabbed everyone’s attention. The 1979 BMW M1 Procar Competition Coupe chassis 1066 looked spectacular and sounded even better. I had never seen one before, and judging by the crowd surrounding it in the paddock, most people had not either.
After watching the car attack the circuit, I caught up with Wesley Butcher from West Suffolk Racing. Wesley and his father prepare the car for owner and driver Steve Osborne.
The Story Behind the M1 Procar Series
Wesley knew everything about the car and the series. BMW Motorsport boss Jochen Neerpasch and Max Mosley originally created the Procar series as a support championship for Formula 1 weekends.
The idea sounded simple. Build a grid of identical BMW M1 race cars and let Formula 1 drivers battle against privateers and guest racers. The concept quickly became one of the most exciting support series in motorsport history.
Race Car Engineering at Its Finest
BMW transformed the road-going M1 into a serious race machine. Engineers stripped out the interior, replaced the glass with plastic windows, widened the arches, and fitted adjustable race suspension.
The standard 3.5-litre straight-six engine produced 277hp in road trim. The Procar version pushed output to around 470hp and revved to an incredible 9,000rpm. The car could reach almost 193mph using the original ZF five-speed gearbox.
Formula 1 drivers occupied the first five grid positions regardless of qualifying results. Legends such as Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet won the championship during its short two-year run.
Chassis 1066’s Remarkable History
Only 54 Procars left the factory, making them exceptionally rare today. Chassis 1066 became the 23rd car produced. Ron Dennis’ Project Four Racing team originally prepared it before the company evolved into McLaren International.
The car later raced across Europe in several liveries before Steve Osborne bought it in 2023. Many people mistake the current colours for BMW Alpina branding, but they actually replicate the livery of a Swiss ski wear and sunglasses company that once sponsored the car.
Steve commissioned a complete rebuild. The team stripped the car to a bare shell and rebuilt it using period-correct components wherever possible. The original engine now produces more than 500hp.
Steve Osborne’s Motorsport Journey
Steve only entered motorsport six years ago after attending a track day following Covid. He quickly developed a passion for racing and started competing in an MGB with coaching from professional driver Chris Ward.
From there he progressed into Porsches, GT3 machinery, Jaguar E-Types, and BMW race cars. This season he plans to race the M1 Procar throughout Europe alongside will be co-driver Chris Ward. They will also be out on track with his BMW M3 E46 GT V8.
Steve also praised sponsor Maldon Salt for helping support his racing programme. He encouraged anyone interested in motorsport to get involved at any level possible because of the friendships and experiences it creates.
Ex-Clint Bowyer NASCAR Toyota Camry
The second standout machine came from a completely different world of motorsport. A 2011 ex-Clint Bowyer NASCAR Toyota Camry arrived at Donington with Andrew Jordan behind the wheel.
The previous week several NASCARs attended another Donington test day. They struggled badly through the corners and only ran during the lunch break to avoid disrupting faster machinery. This car changed my opinion immediately.
A NASCAR Built for Road Courses
The Camry looked fast everywhere. It blasted down the straights but also carried impressive speed through Donington’s flowing corners. Andrew explained that NASCAR teams actually built separate cars for oval racing and road-course events. This version used a completely different suspension setup, which explained why it handled so well.
The Jordan Racing Story
Andrew and his father Mike Jordan own the car. Mike began racing in a Morris Minor he converted himself after securing a £750 bank loan under the pretence of restoring the car.
That decision launched a long career in Formula Ford, touring cars, GT racing, and eventually Team Eurotech. In 2008 Mike and Andrew became the first father-and-son pairing to compete together in the BTCC. Andrew later secured the BTCC title in 2013 against major manufacturer teams.
850 Horsepower of Pure Noise
The Camry recently arrived from the United States and underwent testing ahead of races back in America. The team plans to compete in the Daytona Classic and the Le Mans Classic alongside more than 35 other NASCARs.
Under the bonnet sits a 302 cubic-inch V8 producing around 850hp. The engine can rev to 9,500rpm, although the team currently limits it to 8,500rpm to improve reliability. The sound alone made this car unforgettable.
1974 Chevrolet Corvette 454
The final highlight came from Gary Lapidus and his 1974 Chevrolet Corvette 454 tribute car. Gary moved from Boston to the UK around 15 years ago and brought the Corvette with him.
Gary explained that Britain’s racing scene convinced him to stay. American circuits may offer fantastic tracks, but they sit huge distances apart. In the UK, racers can access multiple circuits within just a few hours.
Gary first raced in 1969, but motorsport shaped his life long before that. His stepfather worked as a crew chief in the northwestern United States, which allowed Gary to spend his childhood around race tracks.
During those years he watched a Corvette raced by Tony DeLorenzo before fire eventually destroyed it. Gary built his current Corvette as a tribute to that car.
He also remembered watching Tony Morton race an F5000 car during the 1970s. Decades later, Gary managed to buy that exact car in 2023 and now races it in the UK as well.
“Racing Is an Obsession”
When I asked Gary whether racing was simply a hobby, he answered instantly:
“No, racing is more than a hobby, it’s an obsession. It’s a boyhood dream.”
That quote perfectly captured the atmosphere of the entire day.
Summary
Donington Park’s unsilenced track day delivered far more than noise and horsepower. Every car carried a story, and every owner shared a genuine passion for motorsport.
The BMW M1 Procar brought Formula 1 history back to life. The NASCAR Toyota Camry proved these machines could handle road circuits properly. Gary Lapidus’ Corvette tribute showed how deeply motorsport memories can shape a lifetime obsession.
Combined with the sound of unrestricted engines echoing around Donington Park, the event created one of the most memorable track days imaginable.
