Billed as an opportunity to see a mix of drivers from various motorsport disciplines, the M1 Pro Car Championship served as support races for various European rounds of the 1979 Formula One season, with Formula One drivers earning automatic entry into the Procar event based on their performance in their Formula One cars. Austrian Niki Lauda won the inaugural championship in 1979 in the Marlboro # 5 car. In 1980, the series held some events outside of the Formula One schedule, and was won by Brazilian Nelson Piquet. BMW chose not to continue the championship in 1981 to concentrate on their entrance into Formula One.