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BMW PRESS RELEASE |
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Wednesday, 29 July 2009 |
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Munich.The BMW Group will not continue its Formula One campaign after the
end of the 2009 season. Resources freed up as a result are to be dedicated
to the development of new drive technologies and projects in the field of
sustainability. BMW will continue to be actively involved in other motor
sports series. The landmark decision to restructure BMW Motorsport’s
activities was made at the Board of Management’s meeting yesterday.
“Of course, this was a difficult decision for us. But it’s a resolute
step in view of our company's strategic realignment," explained Dr.
Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
“Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and
environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in
the lead. In line with our Strategy Number ONE, we are continually
reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability
and sustainability. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter
for us. Mario Theissen has been in charge of our motor sports program
since 1999. We have scored a large number of successes in this period,
including some in Formula One racing. I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to Mario Theissen and his team for this,” said, Reithofer.
Dr. Klaus Draeger, the member of the Board of Management responsible for
development, said: “It only took us three years to establish ourselves
as a top team with the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Unfortunately, we were unable
to meet expectations in the current season. Nevertheless, our ten years of
Formula One experience have had a major impact on our development
engineers. We have racing to thank for numerous technological innovations
as well as the competitive spirit that drives us to develop mass-produced
cars.” Possible redundancies in Munich and Hinwil cannot be quantified
at present. Says Draeger: “Since we only made this decision yesterday,
we cannot provide any more precise information. We will develop and assess
various scenarios and do our best to find a solution for the employees in
Hinwil and the staff members involved in the Formula One project in
Munich. We are aware of the responsibility we shoulder and will inform the
staff as soon as we can make a clear statement."
Says BMW Motorsport director Dr. Mario Theissen: “Of course, we, the
employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this
ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following
three successful years. But I can understand why this decision was made
from a corporate perspective. We will now focus sharply on the remaining
races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we
bid farewell to Formula One racing.”
BMW will continue its programs in a number of motor sports series: BMW
will appear on the starting grid in the touring car series and young
driver promotion program in Formula BMW. This will be supplemented by
BMW’s participation in ALMS, the American Le Mans Series, endurance
races and close-to-production customer sports. Furthermore, BMW Motorrad
Motorsport will continue its campaigns, with the super bike world
championship leading the way.
BMW looks back on a long track record of success in the field of motor
sports:
BMW achieved eight Formula One victories from 1982 to 1985 with Brabham.
In 1983, BMW won the driver’s championship with Nelson Piquet (Brabham
BMW). The last win with the legendary turbo engine followed with Benetton
in 1986. Ten victories were scored during the partnership with Williams
(2000-2005). BMW had a total of 19 grand prix wins and 33 pole positions
before the BMW Sauber F1 Team era.
In its debut season in 2006, the newly established BMW Sauber F1 Team
wound up fifth in the constructor’s championship. In 2007, the
German-Swiss team came in second after McLaren-Mercedes’ exclusion from
the points standings. The 2008 season saw the team in the hunt for the
world championship until the end of the season, winding up third.
Polish-born Robert Kubica achieved the first and hitherto only GP victory
in Canada on June 8, 2008. So far, the BMW Sauber F1 Team has taken one
pole position (Kubica in Bahrain in 2008) and 16 podium finishes. The BMW
Sauber F1 Team occupies the eighth spot in the manufacturer’s standings
in the season presently underway. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 July 2009 )
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