BMW sports boss stands down
Jens Marquardt is relinquishing the reins of BMW Motorsport after nearly 10 years. His tenure in the job will end next month when he takes over a new role outside of motorsport at the German manufacturer.
The German, 53, became director of BMW Motorsport in 2011 ahead of the marque’s return to the DTM, after a 20-year absence, the following season. He also oversaw an expansion of its activities in the GT racing arena and an entry into Formula E.
His reign yielded three DTM titles
(far right), a trio of victories in the Spa 24 Hours, and a win in the Nurburgring 24 Hours this year. Marquardt forged a link-up with the Andretti FE squad ahead of the 2017-18 campaign that turned into a full works entry for the following season.
His time in the job also included a disappointing single campaign in the World Endurance Championship in 2018-19 with the M8 GTE that also races in the IMSA Sportscar Championship, and BMW’S exit from the DTM at the end of this year on the demise of the Class 1 category.
“I will always have emotional memories of the past 10 years,” said Marquardt. “I have experienced all the highs and lows of motorsport with an exceptional team. The overall victory at the Nurburgring 24 Hours was the icing on the cake at the end of this exciting time. I am very grateful to BMW Group and the whole motorsport family.”
Marquardt joined BMW from Toyota, where he had worked in the engine department prior to becoming the Formula 1 squad’s operations and team manager. He worked alongside outgoing BMW Motorsport boss Mario Thiessen during a handover period for the first six months of 2011 before taking full control in July.
His new role is as head of BMW’S Pilot Plant, the name for a group of facilities in and around company headquarters in Munich that produce prototypes of forthcoming production vehicles. The job of BMW Motorsport director will be taken on an interim basis by Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW M Gmbh. Speculation suggests that BMW Motorsport could be incorporated into the M division in the future.