BMW Motorsport changes leadership as Mario Theissen exits stage left

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, BMW

Incoming and outgoing BMW Motorsport directors Jens Marquardt (left) and Mario Theissen (right)

For over a decade now, BMW has had its racing program directed by one man: Mario Theissen. Having joined the Bavarian automaker as a development engineer back in 1977, Theissen became the company's motorsport director in 1999, driving BMW onto the Formula One grid as an engine supplier to Williams before spearheading its acquisition of the Sauber team, which he then ran until the BMW's withdrawal from the sport at the end of the 2009 season. Since then he's been overseeing the construction of the carmaker's racing programs, but he's now stepping down to make way for new leadership.

Taking the reins in Theissen's place will be one Jens Marquardt, who - similar to his mustached predecessor - directed Toyota's Formula One program until it, too, withdrew from the grid. Prior to joining Toyota Motorsport in 2000, Marquardt worked on F1 and Indy engine development at Ilmor Engineering. He'll take over at BMW Motorsport on July 1, working in tandem with Theissen for six months as the company's new DTM program takes shape. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

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BMW Motorsport changes leadership as Mario Theissen exits stage left originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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