THE BMW JUNIOR TEAM.

The legendary BMW Junior Team makes its comeback after more than 40 years. 1977 saw Eddie Cheever, Manfred Winkelhock and Marc Surer cause a stir in the world of motorsport; 2020 sees a new generation of promising talented youngsters compete under the name BMW Junior Team. Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen will undertake a two-season, holistic, high-quality and intensive programme of training, which will set new benchmarks in the promotion of young talent. The concept is built on several pillars: racing, sim racing, mental and fitness training, other training content within the BMW Group, and team building. They are supported by mentors, who are there to advise, train and help them to cope within the environment of a large concern like BMW.

In founding the first development programme for young drivers, BMW Motorsport GmbH was considered a pioneer. Jochen Neerpasch launched a youth programme known as the ‘BMW Junior Team’ in 1977. In the years that followed, the BMW Junior Team became the embodiment of support for talented youngsters and laid the foundation for the intensive youth development at BMW. In the early 90s, BMW and ADAC entered into a joint programme in Formula racing, before Formula BMW established itself as the world’s leading entry-level class in Formula motor racing at the start of the new millennium. In 2014, the BMW Motorsport Junior programme was launched, to allow talented drivers a route into GT racing. The BMW Junior Team now sees BMW Motorsport return to its roots with a unique and innovative concept.

The three current BMW Motorsport Juniors – Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen – are following in big footsteps. Manfred Winkelhock, Marc Surer and Eddie Cheever formed the legendary first BMW Junior Team in 1977. In more than 40 years of promoting youth, BMW has discovered and produced more talented young drivers than almost any other manufacturer. Many of them have gone on to enjoy big careers, like current and former DTM stars Marco Wittmann, Philipp Eng and Martin Tomczyk. However, numerous former Juniors have also made it into Formula 1 via the BMW talent factory. As well as Timo Glock, past Formula 1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg have also benefitted from BMW’s promotion of juniors.
 

Like time itself, Swiss watchmaker Edox never stands still. Founder Christian Ruefli-Flury was driven by his heart when, in 1884, he made a pocket watch for his beloved wife Pauline’s 25th birthday. Delighted, she convinced him to set up his own company – Edox.

Over the decades Edox has forged a reputation as the ‘‘water champion’’ of the watch world, creating world-leading divers’ watches. Ruefli-Flury would no doubt be amazed and honoured how his legacy has flourished over the past 135 years. One of the few remaining family owned Swiss watchmakers, Edox proudly acknowledges its heritage but also embraces innovation and imagination in its collections. Today, Edox is known for its highly water-resistant timepieces, complex hand-polished watch cases and traditional hand assembling.

Edox. A company shaped over time. A company shaping time.