BMW: Mario Theissen to step down
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BMW: Mario Theissen to step down

BMW: Mario Theissen to step down

 

Photo : - BMW GROUP

During 2011, the symbolic head of the Division of Sport BMW will gradually delegate his duties to Jens Marquardt.

Born on 17th August 1952 in Monschau Germany, Mario Theissen joined BMW in 1977 as an engineer. In April 1999 he was appointed director of BMW Motorsport, initially in collaboration with former driver Gerhard Berger. Under his leadership, BMW won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999. This race is remembered as one of the finest in history. After a wild race, the V12 LMR finished ahead of the Mercedes CLR and Toyota GT One.

After a decade of F1, marked by many successes as an engine and a 100% BMW victory at the Grand Prix of Canada 2008, he was a leading architect of the return of the company to endurance racing. This season, the GT2 M3 allowed BMW to clinch the constructor title in the ALMS and won a resounding victory in the ILMC 1000km of Zhuhai.

Jens Marquardt, the future replacement for Mario Theissen has also started as an engineer. He worked at Ilmor engines contributing to IndyCar and F1 (Mercedes). For ten years he was at Toyota, where he served as director.

Julien Hergault

Photo: Munich (Germany), BMW MUSEUM OPENING, 6th October 2010. Mario Theissen poses in front of the first BMW Art Car decorated in 1975 by Alexander Calder. 

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