“It was wild, we all really went for it,” says Stuck. “And there were bonus points if you didn't damage the car. Close racing, good money, great entertainment for the fans. A shame this kind of thing doesn't happen anymore.”
Powered by BMW's M88 straight-six, 3.5-litre engine, and developed by the brilliant Paul Rosche, most of the cars were built by Ron Dennis and his Project 4 Formula 2 team. The inaugural championship, in '79, was won by Niki Lauda. “They were nice cars, easy to drive, and powerful," said Lauda. "Most drivers were switching cars during the season, but I raced my own Marlboro Project 4 car all year run by Ron Dennis who had a very profitable contract to build the cars for BMW.”
Like many others on the F1 grid, Lauda joined in, not just because of the generous prize money, but because it was such a closely fought, feisty and exuberant championship. Ferrari and Renault, however, forbade their drivers from taking part due to the Procars being run on Goodyears rather than the Michelins the two teams were using in the Grands Prix. The F1 drivers weren’t initially keen to race, but the promise of cash in hand – Max Mosely was photographed paying Niki Lauda behind the pits at Zandvoort at one point – was a welcome exchange. No surprise when you received $9,000 for putting it on pole and then $6,000, $4,000, $3,000 etc. If you damaged the cars that would be deducted. Carlos Reuteman was famous for being in the middle of a shunt, but emerging without a scratch. The role call was impressive, though, with seven past or future world champions and 35 drivers who started at least one Grand Prix all taking part over the two-year lifespan. Alongside them were BMW proteges, youngsters on the edge of F1, one-make specialists and touring car stars.