BMW Motorsport

The following extractions are taken from an article in a 1997 issue of BMW's in-house publication "BMW informiert". It contained an interview with Karl-Heinz Kalbfell - who is the manager for the BMW M GmbH since 1988 and responsible for BMW's marketing since 1977. He is said to be one of the initiators for BMW's return in F1 in the year 2000. Title: "Return To The King-Class" From the intro: "14 years after Nelson Piquet became F1 WDC on a Brabham BMW, the management of BMW decided to return to F1 in 2000. The new race car will be called BMW Williams [...]" From the interview: "Q: Mr. Kalbfell, from 1982 to 1987, BMW engines have been 9 times successful in 91 races. The expectations for BMW's new engagement won't be very low. A: If they were low, the whole mission would be senseless. Exactly this tremendous challenge is what will motivate the technicians and engineers for exceptional high performances. [...] We are building in Munich, around Paul Rosche, the team which will construct the BMW engine for the F1 - and in the year 2000, two BMW Williams will be at the start for the World Championship. [...] Q: Why came this decision at this time? A: BMW has always thought about F1 and not forgotten, what the title in 1983 brought us. Motorsport has for us also less of a short-term PR effect, it simply belongs to our philosophy and to the life of the brand BMW. [...] Q: Is it possible BMW had tried a comeback with a different Racing Organization other than Williams? A: We are convinced that Williams is the right team which fits with us. Williams Grand Prix Engineering, with Frank Williams and Patrick Head at the top, has won in the 20 years of the existence of the team 9 constructors championships and 7 driver championships. What impresses me, is their unlimited will to win. I also like the fact, that the "Show Factor" is not in first place, but very serious, objected and disciplined work. Furthermore, this English team understands our sense of humor. Q: How are the competences splitted? A: Everyone does what he knows best: Williams develops and builds the F1 monoposto, we build the F1 engine. [...] Q: Has there been a final decision yet on which kind of engine will be used for the BMW Williams? A: [...] We don't want to stick with one concept yet, because you can discover surprising results during the development. [...] We trust in the enthusiasm of the team and in the experience of Paul Rosche, who build the engine which made Nelson Piquet WDC on the Brabham BMW in 1983. [...] Q: Especially in the German news media, the competition with Mercedes is discussed very hot: "BMW declares war to Mercedes in the King Class", writes the mass paper "Bild". And the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" talks about a "Duel of historic dimension". How do you see that? A: Relaxed. What we do is in first place for our brand. In Sports of course, the differences in technological performance become revealed. But it's our goal, to work out these differences against all competitors. That for the news media and possibly for the fans in Germany the duel BMW vs. Mercedes may spice up F1, basically isn't something bad." Quoted from "BMW informiert 4/97" by BMW AG, translated from German into English by Benjamin Chams-El-Dine Back...

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