BMW Sauber F1 Team registered with the FIA.

The newly-formed BMW Sauber F1 Team has been registered under that name with the FIA -- four-wheeled motorsport's international governing body -- for the 2006 Formula 1 season.

According to BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen (pictured): "The new team name more or less chose itself. It reflects the makeup of the team -- run by BMW but with a core of almost 300 Sauber employees. Plus, the 2006 car was developed by Sauber's proven engineers."

Sauber's Technical Director, Willy Rampf, will continue in his post at Sauber's traditional Hinwil home. Heinz Paschen, meanwhile, remains Technical Director in Munich, where not just the engine but now the entire powertrain will be built. Walter Riedl will be responsible for coordination between the two locations in his capacity as Project Manager.

Peter Sauber is looking forward to his advisory role and welcomes the latest decisions: "It's nice to see that the Sauber name will continue in Formula One. I'm particularly pleased for Sauber's many loyal fans, who I'm sure will support the team with unbowed enthusiasm in the future. The new team's name is also an expression of the huge respect which BMW has for the employees in Hinwil."

Following the naming, it won't be long before the team takes its first steps. The BMW Sauber F1 Team will be officially presented on January 16-17, 2006 in Valencia, Spain, where the new car will embark on its first round of testing without further ado.

The team will start winter testing (also in Spain but this time at Barcelona) with an interim car and the new BMW P86 V8 engine in a week's time.