1972 BMW CSi (E9)
A BMW racing saloon prepared in mid-1975 to compete in the European Touring Car Championship's Trophée de l'Avenir category, this car was built and campaigned by the late Barry 'Whizzo' Williams and Tony Lanfranchi under AutoExtra sponsorship. Its sole period outing was the 1975 Tourist Trophy at Silverstone, where it finished seventh overall and fifth in class. Subsequent owners used it in sprints and hillclimbs before it entered a long period of obscurity, re-emerging as an incomplete but restorable historic racing project.
Ownership
- 2024-02-23Auction saleEstimate £85,000 – £100,000
- 2024-02-23Auction saleEstimate £85,000 – £100,000
- 2024-02-24Auction saleEstimate £85,000 – £100,000
- 1975 → 1975Acquisition unknownBarry 'Whizzo' Williamspartial documentation
Williams was the driving force behind the project, securing AutoExtra sponsorship and overseeing the car's preparation and race entry. Financial difficulties at the sponsor ended plans for a full season.
- 1999 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Operator of a classic and competition car preparation business who acquired the car as a project, investing considerable time and resources over roughly two decades to source parts and advance the restoration, though work remains incomplete at the time of sale.
- Date unknownPrivate saleGerry Tyackpartial documentation
A BMW dealer and enthusiast based in Moreton-in-Marsh who campaigned the car in sprints and hillclimbs for approximately two years, achieving class victories including at the Brighton Speed Trials. He retained it into the early 1980s before selling.
- Date unknownPrivate saleUnknown owner post-Tyacknone documentation
Identity of the buyer from Tyack is unrecorded; the car's whereabouts were essentially unknown for a period of years following this transaction.
Competition
- 1975-10-05European Touring Car Championship (Trophée de l'Avenir)1975 Tourist TrophyDriver: Barry 'Whizzo' Williams7th overall, 5th in class
Co-driven by Tony Lanfranchi. The car completed 99 laps despite high oil consumption and contact with Brian 'Yogi' Muir's Dolomite. Ran as car number 11 in AutoExtra livery.
- —Brighton Speed TrialsDriver: Gerry Tyack1st in class
One of several class victories achieved by Tyack during his ownership, when the car was used in sprints and hillclimbs.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1975Modification
Car was built up to Trophée de l'Avenir regulations for ETCC competition, including adoption of AutoExtra sponsorship livery in blue and white.
Preparation completed in mid-1975 ahead of the October Tourist Trophy at Silverstone.
- 1999RestorationCurrent vendor's preparation business
Long-term project to source missing components and progressively return the car toward full race specification, carried out over approximately two decades as business workload allowed.
Significant expenditure and effort invested but the restoration remained incomplete at the time of consignment.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.