We want to fight for the title in 2009 - Theissen

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen is happy with what the BMW Sauber F1 Team has achieved this year, but admits that he seeks another step forward for next season: in 2009, the Munich and Hinwil based squad aims to be a true championship contender.

Up to the penultimate round of the 2008 season, the BMW Sauber F1 Team remained a factor in the battle for the World Championship. However, next season the team wants to be able to consistently race at the same level as the current top teams, Ferrari and McLaren. "That's where we want to be," insists Theissen. "And we want to achieve this goal with our highly motivated and extremely efficient team. Compared to Ferrari and McLaren our car is not yet fast enough."

According to Theissen, the team did not improve as much as had been hoped for in the second half of the season. "However, I am convinced that we will draw the right conclusions from that for 2009."

Next year, the BMW Sauber F1 Team aims to be a championship contender up to the final round of the season. Theissen confirms: "In 2009 we want to be a force to be reckoned with in the battle for the World Championship title. That's our goal. And in consideration of all the imponderables of the new regulations this is a truly ambitioned goal." In recent years the BMW Sauber F1 Team always succeeded in realising its self-set goals. "We are confident of doing so again in 2009," concludes Theissen.