BMW quits F1 at end of season

[Charlie]

They'd probably get more marketing value out of running NASCAR. They could call their car a 650i, and it would be the only one whose production "sibling" is actually a V8 rear drive car . . . ;-)

Busch/Nationwide series next year is running Mustangs/Camaros/Challengers..;)

-Charlie

[daniel]

Busch/Nationwide series next year is running Mustangs/Camaros/Challengers..;)

beat me to it!

[tjts1]

F1 is a waste of time. It has been for at least a decade now. There are far more interesting and cheaper forms of racing. Maybe if F1 management ever gets it's act together BMW will come back but I'm not holding my breath. Good riddance.

[s38e30]

Weren't there rumors of BMW and Porsche entering NASCAR about a year or so ago for the 2011/12 season? Isn't that why the Panamera and 5 series coupes were designed?

It would be a god marketing tactic for them. Toyota has done well with their team and marketing. BMW has the qualifying factory in SC and Porsche's PMNA in Cali.

[naplesE30]

NASCAR provides no technical innovation for a manufacturer. Sad to see BMW pull out.

[naplesE30]

Hpoefully they will put more resources to LeMans and GT racing

[s38e30]

NASCAR provides no technical innovation for a manufacturer. Sad to see BMW pull out.

In the end, racing should provide profit through exposure, "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday". That's why Toyota got into the game. There is some innovation in Nascar but I'll agree no where near that of F1 or GT,

[Ben Carufel]

Not sure if any of you guys actually took the time to read the press conference notes, but BMW reiterated that they will NOT be pulling out of close-to-production racing series such as ALMS:

"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."

This could end up being good news for us US-based BMW fans. Perhaps we'll end up seeing a sanctioned spec series (SpecMiata, MX-5 Cup-esque) or something else BMW related here in the states...

[TDE30]

Sauber might keep a team alive.

Rumor mill is that Renault is next - may be selling.

I thought Renault was signed on until 2012.

It's a shame at any rate, but it was a business move, and a smart one at that. I've been a BMW(-Williams/-Sauber) fan ever since they joined Formula One in 2000, but with them currently being 8th in the constructor's standings and then suffering a 13% global sales decline in June alone, remaining in the same motorsport series that they've dumped $230M into makes no sense. Perhaps they will rejoin when the economy stabilizes, maybe as an engine supplier, who knows?

[dinanm3atl]

BMW was supposedly signed for next year as well. I think they can 'leave' the series 100%, as Renault could, if they wanted.

Renault could attempt to 'sell' and then maybe Toyota could pull out or attempt to 'sell'. Or just file for bankruptcy? I am not a lawyer so I don't know 100% but as Charlie said, the manufacturer teams are just not the right thing anymore. Definitely not when FIA pulls out all the races where you sell the most cars. Races get moved to the middle east and india where they don't come close to filling up the stands.

[Bimmerman325i]

I work in Munich and this was news even to me!

[TDE30]

BMW was supposedly signed for next year as well. I think they can 'leave' the series 100%, as Renault could, if they wanted.

Renault could attempt to 'sell' and then maybe Toyota could pull out or attempt to 'sell'. Or just file for bankruptcy? I am not a lawyer so I don't know 100% but as Charlie said, the manufacturer teams are just not the right thing anymore. Definitely not when FIA pulls out all the races where you sell the most cars. Races get moved to the middle east and india where they don't come close to filling up the stands.

Actually, upon further reading, only five teams (Williams, Force India, US F1, Campos, and Manor) are officially signed up for the 2010 season. The eight FOTA teams (SF, McMerc, Renault, Toyota, BMW, Brawn GP, RBR, and STR) were all on the accepted entry list approved by the WMSC on 24 June, but they were told by the FIA at a meeting on 8 July that they had not been officially entered in the 2010 season. So, basically, any FOTA team could announce their retirement after the 2009 season with no repercussions.

http://www.teamsassociation.org/press-release/2009-07-08/press-release

[mrsleeve]

Sounds like they are trying to appease the "greenies" by not wasting resources doing stupid things like advancing development and technology of the most common form of transportation on Earth, oh I mean just stupid 'ol racing.

Yep

"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.

This is just what they are doing trying to Keep the green image up to the fullest. Racing in the worlds most primer form of motor sport as a top tire team dose not, promote a truly green image now dose it.

Seems to me they may stand a chance at losing their true core market, by going green and that M badge may stand for Marketing rather than Motor sport.

[dinanm3atl]

I must have misread the other statement/press release. Guess they can all easily leave. Wonder why they haven't signed on. I thought that was all over and done with.

[dinanm3atl]

Yep


This is just what they are doing trying to Keep the green image up to the fullest. Racing in the worlds most primer form of motor sport as a top tire team dose not, promote a truly green image now dose it.

Seems to me they may stand a chance at losing their true core market, by going green and that M badge may stand for Marketing rather than Motor sport.

BMWs CORE market is people with money that want a nice car(for themselves or their wife) and brand whores. The BMW Roundel sells the car to a vast majority of buyers.

The guy that loves driving his e30 325iS up on The Dragon and BMWCCA HPDE weekends is not their core market.