Munich, 29th June 2011. An era has ended: On Wednesday Mario Theissen was officially bade farewell during an emotional consequence in Munich's BMW Classic. On 1st July Jens Marquardt assumes sole responsibility for BMW'south motor racing projects.

More than 100 friends and associates from all phases of his career, including the reigning Formula 1 Globe Champion Sebastian Vettel, Nick Heidfeld, Alessandro Zanardi, Peter Sauber, Franz Tost, Norbert Haug, Stefano Domenicali and the current BMW works drivers, looked back together with Mario Theissen on the by years, apparently with a special focus assail his time equally BMW Motorsport Director. During his 12-year tenure, Theissen celebrated innumerable victories and titles achieved in a variety of championships and series by BMW teams and drivers.

BMW Motorsport Sebastian Vettel Mario Theissen1 655x436

"I have actually enjoyed my 34 years with BMW," said Theissen. "I was fortunate plenty to spend my entire working life with a fascinating company which constantly provided me with challenging projects. For me the motorsport project was the culmination of everything that had gone earlier. Extremely tight deadlines, forrad and backward steps in ii-weekly cycles, triumph and disappointment – and all this in the public center. Information technology was a fantastic time. During this period I met many interesting people, some of whom have become very skilful friends. I owe my colleagues a detail vote of thanks. Their untiring efforts ensured that BMW is a regular company to the podium, and that the motorsport history of BMW has a few more than chapters now. Naturally I must too thank my family. During the by few years a few things patently strayed, literally, off-track, and thus I am looking forward to a considerably more peaceful period in my life."

"With the retirement of Mario Theissen an era in BMW Motorsport has ended," said Dr Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG with responsibleness for development. "During his 12-year service he kept the BMW flag flying remarkably loftier. Whether in Formula 1, in endurance racing, touring cars or in young driver development programmes: Under Mario Theissen's leadership BMW Motorsport celebrated success in all relevant disciplines. Nosotros are behest cheerio not only to an outstanding engineer and squad principal, merely also to an arch motorsport enthusiast. I would like to thank Mario Theissen heartily for his contributions, and am convinced he will keep to follow all motorsport disciplines which characteristic BMW participation with the same level of enthusiasm."

Having started his career in the then-new engine analysis department, Theissen devoted precisely half of his 34-twelvemonth service with BMW to the development of production cars. The 2nd half comprised v years in an innovative projects office, then 12 years in the motorsport division. His offset major event, namely the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours (FR), resulted in resounding victory for the BMW V12 LMR. Serial successes followed, whether in Formula 1, endurance events, or in touring cars. Young driver development lay peculiarly close to his centre, and under his leadership BMW nurtured many of today's Formula one drivers, including Sebastian Vettel.

[Source: BMW ]