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Hockenheim (DE), 19th July 2008. After 30 years, the BMW M1 Procar Series made its comeback to the circuit today, Saturday, with a host of big names and a host of fun. Ten celebrity-manned examples of the close to 500 hp mid-engined racers delivered the first of two show races on the Hockenheimring as part of the support programme of the German Formula One Grand Prix.

In the words of three times World Champion Niki Lauda: "It was such a hoot. We were allowed to drive how we wanted, we didn't have to hold back on the pace. Actually, we should have been chasing Jochen Neerpasch in the M1 Art Car, but he didn't get off to a proper start. And that gave me a clear run ahead. I'm going to have to seriously reconsider whether my career really is over! It was great fun."

"I've always wanted to race against Niki Lauda," said a grinning BMW Sauber F1 Team test driver Christian Klien, who was also behind the wheel of one of the legendary models. The Austrian, born some time after the M1 Procar, was surprised at the calibre of these classics: "It's amazing the handling these cars already had back in the 80s. Even today they feel quite advanced. And as for the sound, it's out of this world. You're sitting right in front of the engine, and at 10,000 revs it's awesome. You really get a sense of the car's sheer power. I can't wait for the next race!"