BMW to compete in Formula 1 from 2006

BMW Motorsport Director Dr Mario Theissen signs the contract for the new team at a BMW Press conference held in Munich on 22nd June 2005. Peter Sauber, and Prof Burkard Goeschel (Board member for Development BMW Group) await their turn to sign the contra

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Article Summary

June 23 2005 BMW is striking out on a new path in Formula One. After acquiring a majority shareholding in the Swiss Sauber team, a BMW managed team will be contesting the Formula One World Championship as early as 2006. This was decided by the BMW Board of Management on Tuesday. It means that, for the first time in company history, BMW will be competing independently in Formula One. The principle BMW association in Formula 1 in recent years has been since 1997 with the Williams BMW team with the BMW engines among the fastest, though no championship has been forthcoming. BMW formerly supplied engines to F1 constructors in the mid-eighties, winning nine Grands Prix and a championship with their road-car based turbo engine in Nelson Piquet's Brabham. BMW's participation will strengthen the Formula 1 grid.

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