Theissen retires as BMW’s racing boss

BMW’s long-time motor racing and formula one boss Dr Mario Theissen is retiring.

The 58-year-old has held the post as BMW motorsport director for 12 years, preceding the German carmaker’s decision to enter F1 initially as an engine supplier to Williams in 2000.

Before that, he joined BMW as a development engineer in 1977.

Next year, he will hand on the baton to Jens Marquardt, a prominent manager at Cologne based Toyota Motorsport, formerly the Japanese marque’s formula one team.

43-year-old Marquardt will therefore lead BMW into the German touring car series DTM in 2012.