One of the most recognisable and successful touring cars from the Southern Hemisphere – the John Player Special-liveried BMW 635CSi of Kiwi racing legend Jim Richards – will make its European debut at this year’s Silverstone Classic, which takes place from 28-30 July.
To make things even more exciting, the Group C racer – dubbed ‘Black Beauty’ in period – will be piloted by none other than ‘Gentleman Jim’ Richards, the car’s original driver and seven-times winner of the legendary Bathurst 1000.
Richards began campaigning the BMW in 1983 under the banner of the Frank Gardner Racing Team, but the Group A division favoured the V8-powered Fords and Holdens. However, when Australia adopted the international Group A formula in 1985, the BMW proved unstoppable, Richards winning seven of the 10 rounds and capturing the inaugural Australian TouringCar Championship. He went on to win the AMSCAR Series and Australian Endurance Championship.
The car eventually passed into the ownership of Kiwi collector Peter Sturgeon, who was convinced to return the BMW to its more dramatic Group C guise by Richards and Pip Barker, who had worked with Frank Gardner and built the 635CSi in the first place.
“Pip adopted the project and it took him almost 18 months to complete,” said Sturgeon. “It was worth all the effort, though, as the final result is utterly amazing.
