Autosport selects BMW M3 E30 as greatest touring car in 70th Anniversary issue

The first issue of Autosport magazine appeared on 25 August 1950 and as part of our celebrations we took on the challenge of selecting the greatest competition cars from each of the major international categories.

The famous saloon narrowly defeated its Group A rival, the Ford RS500, to win the tin-top contest and is one of the Great Car articles in the standalone 70th special.

Gary Watkins has spoken to some of the key figures involved in the programme, including Thomas Ammerschlager, head of production and development at BMW Motorsport at the time, and a number of the car's leading drivers, such as Roberto Ravaglia and Steve Soper. They reveal some hidden stories, such as the disbelief that the new car could immediately outpace the bigger and successful 635CSi.

As well as similar articles on the other winners of the Great Car debates, the special also includes interviews with some of the biggest names in motorsport.

Multiple Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, World Rally legend Sebastien Loeb and American motorsport giant Roger Penske all open up about their careers, their highlights and lowlights. We also got British Touring Car giants Colin Turkington and Andy Rouse together to compare notes on their experiences.

When it comes to the UK national racing scene, there is an article by Marcus Pye on the important roles that Cooper and Van Diemen played in the junior single-seater industry, a look back at some of the sport's most interesting and colourful characters, and a history of the 750 Formula, a championship as old as Autosport.

It's not just about the past, we assess what the future of motorsport could look like too, with the help of leading industry experts. There are challenges ahead, but also many opportunities.

The 70th celebration includes some stunning photography from the Motorsport Images archive, as well as Giorgio Piola illustrations of the Mercedes W11, which secured the record-breaking seventh consecutive F1 constructors' crown for the pacesetting squad.