BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM

A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM
Since announcing its intention to run its own team for 2006, the BMW Sauber F1 Team's intensive preparations for its debut at the opening round at Bahrain saw the team reveal the BMW Sauber F1.06 race car to the media at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencas (CAC) before making its track debut at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain on 17 January 2006 .

The event was the culmination of preparations that has seen the team work towards the integration of Munich and Hinwil; the setup and running of an interim car up, the drivers confirmation; and contract conclusion with major partners - PETRONAS, Intel, Credit Suisse, O2 and other sponsors.

OWN TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME
Since the June 2005 announcement, the team signed a three-year contract with German Nick Heidfeld on 16 September 2005. Following the reveal of the team name on 14 November 2005 was the confirmation that Jacques Villeneuve would also drive for the team on 1 December and the signing of Robert Kubica as its test and reserve driver on 20 December. The first test-drives with an interim Sauber chassis and the BMW P86 engine was launched on 28 November 2005.

The team remains realistic with the first season as one mainly to gather experience with Sauber’s eighth place finish in the Constructors’ World Championship in 2005 as its starting point. Dr. Mario Theissen notes, “for the BMW group, F1 acts as a high-tech lab and a technology accelerator. With its dynamism, premium image, sporting challenges and demand for technical innovations, F1 chimes in perfectly with BMW’s brand values, including driving pleasure. And there is no other sporting event that generates so much attention worldwide on such a regular basis.”

The expansion plans include boosting the workforce in Hinwil, many of whom to reinforce the aerodynamics department. Plans are underway to run the impressive Wind Tunnel on a multiple-shift basis. In parallel with this, the networking of the two locations, Munich (responsible for powertrain and electronics) and Hinwil (chassis and race deployment), is being driven forward along with an intensive development programme for 2007.

Meanwhile, after 13 years in his role as an F1 team principal, Peter Sauber has retired from the operational side of the business. He appeared in Valencia for the first time in his new role as consultant to the BMW Sauber F1 team.

THE DRIVER LINE UP
With the wealth of experience behind the scenes at Hinwil and Munich, the team will also feature two adoptive Swiss the cockpit – both drivers have known each other for a long time, both drivers have driven for Sauber, both drivers live in Switzerland, but both have never been team-mates. Joining drivers Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve who have a combined Formula One experience of 250 grand prix, is a talented Polish newcomer, Robert Kubica.