The second round of the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS) was dominated by two major talking points: the guest appearance of Max Verstappen and the highly anticipated racing debut of the BMW M3 Touring 24h. For factory drivers Jens Klingmann and Ugo de Wilde, the weekend provided a unique laboratory to test whether a performance estate can truly rival a purebred GT3 machine.

Due to a scheduling conflict with the 12 Hours of Sebring, which saw several BMW factory pilots competing in the US, Klingmann and de Wilde were tasked with a double-duty program, sharing the cockpit of both the #77 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Evo and the new M3 Touring 24h.

BMW to unleash “April fool” M3 GT3 Touring at 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours

With both cars operated by the same Oschersleben-based squad on an equal Balance of Performance and running on identical Yokohama rubber, the stage was set for a perfect back-to-back comparison.

The initial feedback from the cockpit was surprisingly uniform. "As a driver, you honestly forget you aren't in the M4 GT3," Klingmann told Motorsport.com Germany.

"The fundamental characteristics are so similar that you have that same immediate sense of confidence you’ve built up with the GT3 over the years."

For de Wilde, the weekend was a double debut – his first time in a GT3 car on the Nordschleife and his first outing in the Touring.

"They are remarkably similar," the Belgian told Motorsport.com Germany. “Once you are strapped in, the feeling of being in a completely different racing car almost disappears, even though the seat and the safety nets are obviously different.”

Crunching the numbers

While the drivers felt little difference, the stopwatch can sometimes paint a different picture. However, the data confirms their impressions.

When looking at the average of the 17 fastest laps (representing the top 60% of the race), the two Schubert cars were nearly inseparable:

• BMW M4 GT3 Evo #77 – 8:06.253 minutes

• BMW M3 Touring 24h #81 – 8:06.546 minutes

Both cars ran a similar pace throughout the race. The Touring’s final gap of 1:24 minutes at the finish line to its sister car was largely due to a 40-second loss in a Code 60 zone during the very last lap.

In terms of the absolute fastest lap, the M4 GT3 still holds the crown:

• M4 GT3 Evo: 7:59.610 minutes (Klingmann, Lap 29)

• M3 Touring 24h: 8:01.723 minutes (de Wilde, Lap 26)

It is worth noting that while the winning Rowe Racing BMW – running on Michelin tires – was nearly two minutes faster over the four-hour distance, both Schubert cars were making their competitive debut on the Yokohama development tire.

Stiffness vs forgiveness

Despite the similarities, the Touring is a little bit harder to drive.

"A key difference is that the Touring feels a bit stiffer," de Wilde admitted. “In high-speed corners, it’s very precise but also more aggressive. That meant I didn't have 100% confidence right away.”

This "aggression" stems from the Touring's unique body shape, which creates a stiffer rear end compared with the coupe.

While modern GT3 cars are engineered to be forgiving for amateur drivers, the M3 Touring is a more demanding tool. With Klingmann, de Wilde, Connor de Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen, BMW has assigned four top-tier pros to master this specific challenge.

Massive shoutout to all our fans! Your love for the BMW M3 Touring 24H is absolutely insane! 🙌#WeBuiltItpic.twitter.com/s3VMVV1Zm1

— BMW M Motorsport (@BMWMotorsport) March 21, 2026

Klingmann noted that the Touring requires more "commitment" in high-speed sections like the right-hander after Sabine Schmitz Corner, Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz, and Fuchsrohre.

"The first half of the lap demands absolute trust in the car. It’s mid-to-high speed, and you have to build that trust to be truly fast," he explained.

Interestingly, the biggest difference isn't found on the track, but during the driver change. "The most noticeable change is getting in and out," de Wilde remarked.

"Due to the shorter front doors of the four-door body, the cockpit is a bit more cramped during the swap. But once you're on track, you're back in the M4 mindset."

The project, which famously started as an April Fools' joke, has now proven its serious performance potential. Finishing 12th overall and beating several established GT3 cars – including a Ford Mustang from the SP9-Pro class – has sent a clear message to the paddock.

"We are very satisfied with the debut at NLS2," Klingmann concluded. "We’ve seen that in the eight months from the start of the project to this first race, we did a lot of things right.

“Our mission is clear: we aren't here to be field fillers. We want to extract every bit of potential and make this car as competitive as possible."

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