JULY 10, 2006

BMW hires Duesmann

Markus Duesmann, formerly the head of Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines, will take over as head of BMW's F1 powertrain operations at the beginning of January next year. He will replace Heinz Paschen, the current engine designer who is leaving the company. Duesmann will report to BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen.

According to BMW Duesmann approached BMW offering his services after leaving Mercedes-Benz and the Munich company agreed that it would be good idea to hire him to organise BMW's F1 operations.

Duesmann (37) is a topline engineering talent having spent four years at Mercedes-Benz before moving on to eight years of advanced research at FEV Motorentechnik in Aachen. He then went back to DaimlerChrysler to work on diesel development before being put in charge of the F1 programme.