Conheça o comunicado oficial da BMW sobre a sua retirada da Fórmula 1 a partir de 2010:
Munique. O Grupo BMW não irá continuar na Fórmula 1 depois do final da temporada de 2009. Os recursos agora serão dedicados ao desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias e projetos no campo da sustentabilidade. A BMW continuará ativa em outras categorias do automobilismo. A decisão para reestruturar as atividades da BMW Motorsport foi tomada na reunião do Conselho de Gestão, ontem. “É claro, foi uma decisão difícil para nós. Mas é um passo razoável em vista do realinhamento estratégico de nossa companhia“, explicou Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Presidente do Conselho de Gestão da BMW AG.
“Será aos poucos definida nos termos de sustentabilidade e compatibilidade com o meio-ambiente. Essa é uma área onde nós queremos nos manter na liderança. Com a nossa Strategy Number ONE, nós estamos continuamente revisando todos os projetos e iniciativas para verificá-los nos pontos de viabilidade futura e sustentabilidade. Nossa campanha na Fórmula 1 é assim um promotor a menos para nós. Mario Theissen esteve no comando do nosso programa automobilístico desde 1999. Nós tivemos um grande número de sucessos nesse período, incluindo alguns na Fórmula 1. Eu gostaria de expressar minha sincera gratidão para Mario Theissen e sua equipe por isso“, disse Reithofer.
Dr. Klaus Draeger, o membro do Conselho de Gestão responsável pelo desenvolvimento, disse: “Só levamos 3 anos para nos estabelecermos como uma equipe top com a BMW Sauber F1 Team. Infelizmente, não conseguimos atingir as expectativas nessa temporada. Apesar de tudo, a experiência adquirida nos nossos 10 anos de Fórmula 1 teve um grande impacto nos nossos engenheiros de desenvolvimento. Nós estivemos competindo para agradecer as grandes inovações tecnológicas assim como o espírito competitivo que nos faz desenvolver veículos produzidos em massa“.
Sobre as sedes de Munique e Hinwil, disse Draeger: “Como nós tomamos essa decisão apenas ontem, não podemos fornecer informações mais precisas. Nós vamos desenvolver e estudar vários cenários e fazer o nosso melhor para encontrar uma solução para todos os empregados em Hinwil e todo os membros do staff envolvidos no projeto da Fórmula 1 em Munique. Nós estamos cientes da responsabilidade que temos e iremos informar o staff assim que pudermos informá-los com claridade“.
Disse o diretor da BMW Motorsport, Dr. Mario Theissen: “É claro, nós, os empregados em Hinwil e Munique, todos gostaríamos de manter nossa campanha ambiciosa e mostrar que essa temporada foi apenas um ‘soluço’, depois de três anos bem sucedidos. Mas eu entendo porque essa decisão foi tomada de um ponto de vista corporativo. Nós agora vamos nos focar fortemente nas corridas restantes e demonstrar nosso espírito esportivo e conseguir bons resultado enquanto dizemos adeus às corridas da Fórmula 1“.
Resolute Step En Route to Realigning the BMW Group
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 companys 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.
