21 Jan 2009

Buoyant BMW target F1 title with new car

9:07 am on 21 January 2009

Poland's Robert Kubica has given BMW-Sauber's new Formula One car its track debut in Spain as his team prepares for a first serious assault on the championship.

Team boss Mario Theissen says they have met every target they set in their four year plan when they started in 2006 with points in the first season, a podium in 2007 and first race win in 2008.

The Munich carmaker led the constructors' championship for the first time last year, after the Bahrain race in April, and Kubica then brought them a first victory in Canada to also lead the drivers' standings briefly.

Kubica and German team mate Nick Heidfeld also finished on the podium 11 times last year with a one-two in Montreal. BMW-Sauber ended the season third.