Racing Heritage Paves Way for the Ultimate Driving Experience
If you have driven a BMW, you have experienced the racing spirit of the brand. Their cars hug turns, grip the road, and rumble past the competition. That feeling comes from a long history of motorsport and inspires passion in any driver. With the new Formula 1 racing season about to begin, we thought we would take a look at the history of BMW in Formula 1:
1980's
The 1980's saw the rise of the turbocharged engine. BMW started the decade by announcing their work on an engine form the Brabham F1 team. At its debut in 1982, Nelson Piquet drove the turbocharged motor to a Canadian Grand Prix victory. The following year, the team took several more victories before Piquet again clinched a championship win. The tide began to turn against turbocharged engines, however, and by 1986 BMW announced they would discontinue racing in Formula 1.
Early 2000's
The new Millennium brought further engine advancements and BMW was well-equipped for the racing scene when they perfected their V10 engine. Oddly enough, it was a BMW V12 that attained victory at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans and ultimately led to the highly successful V10. At the hands of Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button, BMW's second wave of Formula 1 victories lasted until 2005, when questions of technical failures caused disruption on the team. Once again, BMW withdrew from Formula 1.
Late 2000's
After determining they no longer wanted to provide just the engine, which necessitated a Formula 1 partnership, BMW began their own team. For research and development, they acquired state-of-the-art facilities at Sauber and took complete control of their own racing. After a few years of minor placements, the BMW team won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.
The extensive history of racing engines and racing victories should provide some background for why you feel an extra thrill behind the wheel of a BMW: they are built for speed! As precision vehicles, designed to provide drivers the "ultimate driving experience", they require regular and specialized auto repair. At Rocco's European Garage, our technicians specialize in BMW service and repairs and share the passion for performance with you. If you have any questions about your BMW's performance, and how you can help it live up to its Formula 1 racing heritage, call or swing by our shop in East Cobb, Georgia today to speak with a technician: (404) 620-3787