The BMW Sauber team are continuing to evaluate offers to buy their team in time for next season, according to Mario Theissen, with the Hinwil-based squad on the market after BMW announced their withdrawal at the end of the season.
While Theissen told the press in Belgium that there had been no significant developments since Valencia on the subject of confirming a buyout of the rudderless team, he reiterated his hope that a deal could be sorted as soon as possible, to boost the team's chances of holding on to the coveted 13th grid slot in the 2010 championship.
"There's no more that I can tell you," he whined in frustration after being asked about the progress he had made again, "We are one week advanced in the process, but it is still the same process. We are evaluating our offers and we are not as far as to have a decision or a clear direction. There's nothing that I can announce."
Theissen also talked about the main issue for the team as and when they secure a new backer, namely that their place in the grid is still far from guaranteed. BMW failed to sign the new Concorde Agreement, which meant that the FIA re-opened bids from teams for the 13th grid slot. Although BMW Sauber are one of the teams who have submitted a bid, they are likely to face competition from Epsilon Euskadi and Prodrive.
"We have got information that we are contender, which is not an agreement or binding. We just got a positive comment," Theissen explained patiently, "They didn't say that we are preferred, but we are in the running. I don't know about the deadline - I don't even know how many other teams there are in the running."
He also said that the BMW marque's main priority right now was finding a new owner for their F1 team, and not in evaluating other motorsport avenues. Since BMW announced their withdrawal, rumours have spread that the manufacturer is planning a full-scale assault on the perennially low-on-manufacturers knockabout touring car series, the DTM.
"We are focusing on what happens to the F1 team next year, then we will sort out the other issues," Theissen insisted, adding that securing drivers for whatever the team becomes for 2010 was also a priority, "From my perspective, I'm mostly focusing on the team. Of course, the drivers are evaluating their own options. But if there is a chance to get together, then fine."
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