Bobby Rahal: "I'll probably die on a racetrack"

Hello Robert! BMW has just offered you this superb M5 Touring because of your duties as Grand Marshal of theEndurance Challenge of the German manufacturer. Share with us this crazy connection with BMW!

My story with BMW began in my sophomore year of college. At 19, I owned a 2002 1972 TII. It wasn’t my first car—I had a Volkswagen before that—but it was that BMW that really got me hooked. I drove them for years, and after I retired from racing, the first car I restored was my 2002 TII, which I still have today. It was a fantastic car. I also own a 3.0 CS and a 3.0 CSL. I’ve always admired BMW for their unique cars. That’s part of the reason I wanted to partner with them in motorsport. For a long time, there were no opportunities, but I kept in touch with BMW North America in New Jersey. Finally, in 2007, an opportunity presented itself, and the rest is history. I have always been a big fan of BMW, both for the brand and for its racing performance: IMSA, Formula 2, Formula 1, Endurance, especially in 24 Hours of Le Mans. We have built a strong relationship and achieved many successes with models like the M3, M8 and Z4.

Just curious: what are you studying at university?

I have a degree in history, although obviously I haven't really used it in a long time.

How did your passion for motorsport begin?

My passion is as strong today as it was when I was a child. My father raced cars for fun, as a hobby, and he started with sports cars, especially Alfa Romeo and Porsche. In the 1960s, I grew up attending his races and seeing the greatest drivers in the world.