Jens Marquardt, BMW Group Motorsport Director, will move on from the role after just under ten years, as he takes up a new position within the BMW Group.
Marquardt took on the role of BMW’s Motorsport Director in 2011, taking the position from Mario Theissen, who had been in the role since 1999.
During Marquardt’s tenure, BMW has focused its touring car motorsport activities exclusively on the DTM, which from 2021 will become a customer racing GT series.
As a result of the realigning of responsibilities, Marquardt has moved on to a new role within the BMW Group. As of 1 November he will head the Pilot Plant for the prototype construction of production models.
Marquardt will head up a team of around 700 employees who work on up to six vehicle projects at one time in the plant.
Taking over from Marquardt at the helm of BMW Group Motorsport will be Markus Flasch, the CEO of BMW M GmbH.
Flasch will continue to oversee BMW’s factory-backed involvement in the FIA Formula E World Championship and in GT racing.
“I will always have emotional memories of the past ten years,” said Marquardt. “I have experienced all the highs and lows of motorsport with an exceptional team.
“The overall victory at the Nürburgring 24-hour race 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 for all these memories. After 25 years in motorsport, I am very much looking forward to a new challenge.”
Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, paid tribute to the successes that BMW had enjoyed under Marquardt’s leadership.
“Jens Marquardt has been responsible for our involvement in motorsport since 2011,” said Weber. “During this time, we have achieved great success: the DTM titles in 2012, 2014 and 2016, as well as various overall and class victories at endurance classics like Daytona, Spa and, most recently, the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
“I would like to thank Jens Marquardt and his entire team very much for that. Head of the Pilot Plant for prototype construction is a fundamental role in the development process.
“With the agile working method and his motorsport experience, Jens Marquardt will provide new impetus there.”