The Italian Superturismo championship in the early 1990s was among the most competitive touring car series on the continent, and no entry was more closely watched than the Team BMW machine adorned in the white and blue of fuel sponsor FINA. At Monza in 1992, that car — race number 1 — was entrusted to Roberto Ravaglia, the Bolognese driver who had already written himself into BMW lore by winning the 1987 World Touring Car Championship. Spark Model has documented this entry in 1:43 resin.
The E30 M3: Built to Race
BMW produced the E30 M3 from 1986 to 1991 as a homologation special for Group A touring car racing. The bodyshell was derived from the standard E30 3-Series but featured flared wheel arches and a revised rear screen to manage aerodynamic loads. Power came from the S14 four-cylinder unit, displacing 2.3 litres in road form and producing approximately 200 hp; race-tuned versions ran substantially higher output. The result was one of the most successful touring car platforms of its generation, dominating circuits across Europe well into the early 1990s.
Race Number 1: Ravaglia and the FINA Livery at Monza
Roberto Ravaglia's connection to the BMW M3 E30 is inseparable from the car's competition legend. His 1987 WTCC title was followed by multiple Italian and European touring car victories, all in BMW machinery. The FINA sponsorship — representing the international fuel and lubricants brand — brought a immediately recognisable white and blue colour scheme to Team BMW entries in this period, and the combination of that livery with the number 1 plate at Monza in 1992 represents one of the defining images of Italian Superturismo. The championship ran E30 and E36 machinery concurrently, with Ravaglia acting as the leading works presence for BMW Italy.
Spark Model in 1:43: Resin Construction, Period Detail
Spark Model produced this piece as part of its Italian series releases, identifiable by the SI prefix in the reference system. Like all Spark 1:43 products, it is constructed in resin, the material of choice for accurately capturing the subtle body lines of the E30 M3 — including its characteristic flared arches — at this scale. The livery replicates the FINA white and blue scheme with race number 1 as carried at Superturismo Monza 1992, and the model correctly attributes the car to Roberto Ravaglia as driver.
In the Display Cabinet
This model sits naturally alongside other Spark touring car resin pieces from the same era — BMW M3 E30 and E36 entries from the BTCC, DTM, or STW series make obvious companions, as do contemporary Superturismo rivals such as the Alfa Romeo 155 GTA. For the BMW marque collector, pairing it with 1:43 representations of Ravaglia's 1987 WTCC-winning machinery adds a coherent narrative thread. The FINA livery is distinctive enough to anchor a dedicated touring car shelf without visual repetition.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Roberto Ravaglia?
Roberto Ravaglia is one of BMW's most celebrated works drivers. He won the 1987 World Touring Car Championship and claimed multiple Italian and European touring car titles, all in BMW M3 machinery.
What is the FINA livery on this BMW M3 E30?
FINA, the international fuel and lubricants brand, was a major BMW Motorsport sponsor in European touring car racing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their white and blue colours appeared on works and semi-works BMW M3 entries, including Team BMW cars driven by Ravaglia.
What is the Superturismo championship?
The Italian Superturismo championship ran in the early 1990s and featured BMW M3 E30 and E36 machinery alongside other Group A-derived touring cars. Ravaglia was a dominant force for Team BMW Italy during this period.
Who makes this model and what material is it?
The model is produced by Spark Model, a specialist manufacturer known for its 1:43 resin touring car subjects. Spark's Italian series covers period entries from Italian and European championships.
