BMW`s involvement in Formula One

London: The following factbox details BMW`s involvement in Formula One up to Wednesday`s announcement that they will be pulling out of the sport at the end of 2009.

BMW made their Formula One debut in 1982 as an engine supplier to Brabham. Brazilian Nelson Piquet started the first race in South Africa on the front row but did not finish.

Their first win as an engine supplier came in 1983 with Piquet in Brazil. He ended up as champion that same year.

BMW pulled out as an engine supplier in 1987 at the end of the sport`s turbo era.

The carmaker returned in 2000 as engine partners to former champions Williams, winning races in 2001 and ending as championship runners-up in 2002 and 2003. In their six-year partnership, they won 10 grands prix and took 17 pole positions.

BMW took over Swiss-based Sauber in mid-2005 and entered with their own team for the first time in 2006. They took their first race win with Poland`s Robert Kubica in Canada last season.

In 2007 BMW-Sauber were second overall after McLaren were stripped of their points for a spying controversy.

This season BMW have scored just eight points in 10 races and are eighth of the 10 teams. Bureau Report