BMW to leave Formula 1
29th July, 2009
German car giants, BMW, have announced that they are set to leave Formula One at the end of the current campaign.
The team, who took over Sauber four years ago, are the second major team to quit the sport in the past year, after Honda left last December.
BMW entered Formula One in 1982 and supplied engines to Brabham’s until 1987. The company re-entered the sport in 2000 for six years, as the engine supplier of Williams, until Sauber was purchased.
The aspirations of the BMW team were to win the Championship within three years. However, their drivers, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld have only managed to secure eight points so far this season.
It had been suggested that the reason for the departure was due to the current technical regulations within the sport and the team’s poor performances on the track that had accompanied them. Additionally, the global economic climate was thought to have been another reason.
An FIA statement said "It has been clear for some time that motor sport cannot ignore the world economic crisis. Car manufacturers cannot be expected to continue to pour large sums of money into Formula 1 when their survival depends on redundancies, plant closures and the support of the taxpayer."
It is thought that BMW’s strategic realignment, will now concentrate on Formula BMW, the touring car series and American Le Mans series. Odds with Bet365 show red Bull at 4/9 and Brawn GP at 13/8, to win the Constructors Championship.
By Dane
