BMW retain the Sauber name for 2006

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   from bmw-motorsport.com

 BMW Sauber F1 Team registered with the FIA.

Born in June, christened in November: the newly formed BMW Sauber F1
Team has been registered under that name with the FIA ahead of the 15th
November deadline for entries for the 2006 season.

As BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen explains: �The new team name
more or less chose itself. It reflects the makeup of the team � run by
BMW but with a core of almost 300 Sauber employees. Plus, the 2006 car
was developed by Sauber�s proven engineers.�

Sauber�s Technical Director, the German Willy Rampf, will continue in
his post at the Hinwil location. Heinz Paschen, meanwhile, remains
Technical Director in Munich, where not just the engine but now the
entire powertrain will be built. Walter Riedl will be responsible for
coordination between the two locations in his capacity as Project
Manager.

Peter Sauber is looking forward to his advisory role and welcomes the
latest decisions: �It�s nice to see that the Sauber name will continue
in Formula One. I�m particularly pleased for Sauber�s many loyal fans,
who I�m sure will support the team with unbowed enthusiasm in the
future. The new team�s name is also an expression of the huge respect
which BMW has for the employees in Hinwil.�

Following the christening, it won�t be long before the team takes its
first steps. The BMW Sauber F1 Team will be officially presented on
16th and 17th January 2006 in Valencia, Spain, where the new car will
embark on its first round of testing without further ado. First,
though, the team will start winter testing with an interim car and the
new BMW P86 V8 engine. The testing programme begins on 28th November in
Barcelona, Spain.