BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM - JAPAN GP - PREVIEW

Munich/Hinwil, 1st October 2006. The Asian tour continues, but this coming
Sunday, 8th October, might well see the final event for the foreseeable future
at one of the greatest Formula One circuits on the calendar. The BMW Sauber F1
Team looks forward to the Suzuka International Racing Course, where the 17th of
18 rounds in the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship will be held.

Nick Heidfeld:
"I just can't wait to get to Suzuka. It's my favourite of all F1 circuits. This
time it will be a slightly wistful occasion as we may not be racing there again
after 2006 if Fuji joins the racing calendar as the venue for the Japanese GP.
But I'm hoping there might be two races in Japan. It would be sad to say
farewell to this challenging circuit. Its main attraction is the so-called
"esses" - a series of high-speed turns behind the pits. There are five
consecutive corners which flow beautifully and are tremendous fun if you manage
to get them right. But if you mess up the first turn, it will pursue you right
through to the last one in the sequence.

I'll be flying to Tokyo on the Monday after the Chinese Grand Prix to visit a
friend. Tokyo is an impressive place and I'm already looking forward to
enjoying some Japanese food. The first thing we think of is sushi, which is
delicious, but there's a lot more to Japanese cuisine than that."

Robert Kubica:
"I've only been to Japan once - back in 2000 for the Karting World Championship
in Motegi. So I don't actually know the Suzuka track, although it seems very
impressive - I took a look at it on a computer game. It looks very challenging
and it must be fun to drive there, so I'm really looking forward to the
Japanese GP. Unfortunately I've never had the opportunity to drive another car
there, but I'm sure driving a Formula One will be a tremendous experience."

Sebastian Vettel:
"After China, we Europeans have our next exotic country lined up. The language
and lifestyle are a different world. I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to go
to Japan with the team. For me it is also the country of inventors of all kinds
of electronic gadgets. I've only driven the track on a video game so far and I
believe Suzuka is an impressive circuit, especially the esses. It will be
difficult to find the ideal line and the braking points at the start. I imagine
the circuit to be as great as Spa, if not better."

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
"The future of Suzuka as a GP venue is uncertain as 2006 might be our last
visit to this track. It would be a shame, because this circuit is one of the
most challenging for the drivers who, along with the fans, like the circuit a
lot. It also gives the engine engineers a mountain to climb as the ultra-fast
130R turn puts a huge load on the oil circulation. We have measured lateral
acceleration of up to 6g there and have to make sure the oil supply is not
interrupted under such loads. For the BMW Group the Japanese Grand Prix means a
visit to another important Asian market within eight days."

Willy Rampf, Technical Director:
"A well-balanced car is an absolute must in Suzuka. The esses in the first
sector are particularly crucial. The car has to be fast and able to change
direction with great precision. Any handling problems will cost time. The
numerous turns at Suzuka take their toll on the tyres, which can affect the
race strategy. The concentration of corners is among the highest in the whole
season, and the restricted run-off areas are another feature: minor mistakes
can easily put you out of the race. Suzuka is a true drivers' track."

History and background:
The Suzuka circuit is the only F1 course designed as a figure eight. It offers
every variety of turn, from the tight Spoon curve to the high-speed 130R.

The track is situated in the middle of Suzuka Land, a leisure park built for
the families of Honda employees and recognisable from afar by its Ferris wheel.

2006 sees the 20th Japanese Grand Prix held at Suzuka. Formula One debuted at
Suzuka in 1987. Prior to that, two Japanese GPs were held at the circuit at the
foot of Mount Fuji in 1976 and 1977. In 1994 and 1995 the Pacific GP was hosted
at Japan's Aida track.

The 2004 Japanese Grand Prix remains etched in the memories of the teams taking
part. On the Saturday, the circuit was completely closed off due to an
approaching typhoon, which eventually made landfall elsewhere. On Friday the
teams had packed everything up and secured their equipment amid torrential
rainfall. The all-clear was given on Saturday afternoon and qualifying moved to
Sunday morning. Formula One had already experienced nature's forces at Suzuka
in 2000, when slight aftershocks of an earthquake could be felt during free
practice.

The city of Suzuka lies on the southeast coast of the main Japanese island of
Honshu and belongs to the Mie Prefecture. Local industry is mainly based on
foodstuffs and textiles. Honda also has major production plants in Suzuka. The
town is first mentioned in records going back to 645, and today has a
population of almost 200,000. Suzuka has a medical university, and among its
attractions are Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

Schedule for group interviews at the weekend:

Thursday:
13.30-13.50 - Nick Heidfeld - print media
13.50-14.00 - Nick Heidfeld - TV
13.30-13.40 - Robert Kubica - TV
13.40-14.00 - Robert Kubica - print media
14.00-14.10 - Sebastian Vettel - TV
14.10-14.30 - Sebastian Vettel - print media
15.30-16.00 - Mario Theissen - TV and print media

Friday:
16.15-16.25 - Nick Heidfeld - TV
16.15-16.25 - Robert Kubica - TV
16.15-16.35 - Sebastian Vettel - print media
16.35-16.45 - Sebastian Vettel - TV

Saturday:
16.30-16.40 - Nick Heidfeld - TV
16.40-17.00 - Nick Heidfeld - print media
16.30-16.50 - Robert Kubica - print media
16.50-17.00 - Robert Kubica -TV
17.30-18.00 - Mario Theissen - TV and print media

Sunday:
Approx. 30 minutes after the end of the race, Heidfeld, Kubica, Theissen and
Rampf will be on hand in the team's Hospitality area.

Involvement in the FIA Press Conference means the group interviews will be
cancelled on the relevant day.

TV footage can be downloaded at www.thenewsmarket.com

Latest photos are regularly available at www.press.bmwgroup.com