While for the first time in its five-year involvement the BMW WilliamsF1 Team failed to meet its targets in the FIA Formula One World Championship of 2004, there were major victories to celebrate in touring car racing: BMW won the Manufacturers' and Drives' title in the FIA European Touring Car Championship, took overall victory in the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring and a class victory at the 24 Hours of Spa. Formula BMW, meanwhile, spread beyond its successful series in Germany and Asia to establish itself in the USA and Britain as well in 2004.

The BMW WilliamsF1 Team had entered the 2004 season with great expectations. The FW26 with its striking nose cone had acquitted itself superbly during winter testing, but in the first races it soon became clear that the competition had made a greater leap forward in terms of development. Although the BMW P84 engine once again made its mark as a leading power unit in terms of performance and reliability, the gap on the chassis front could no longer be closed despite intensive work and design modifications. The situation worsened when Ralf Schumacher had to miss out on six Grand Prix races after a serious accident in Indianapolis. During this time, test drivers Marc Gené and Antonio Pizzonia drove the second FW26 alongside Juan Pablo Montoya. One pole position (Schumacher in Canada) and three podium places (Montoya two, Schumacher one) remained for a long time the best results posted during the season. It wasn't until the final in Brazil that Montoya claimed his first win of the season to end it on a more cheering note. Even so, after the team had exceeded its targets for four consecutive years and been in contention for the title up until the final in 2003, fourth place in the Constructors' Championship in 2004 was the worst result since the partnership began in 2000. More from BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen...

By contrast, it was success all the way in touring car racing. BMW swept the board with the 320i in the FIA European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) and took the BMW M3 GTR to overall victory in the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring as well as a class win in the 24 Hours of Spa. In the Manufacturers' standings of the European Touring Car Championship, BMW had carved out an unassailable lead with three races to go before the end of the season. In the final events in Dubai, Andy Priaulx (GBR, BMW Team Great Britain) managed to secure the Drivers' title.

2004 BMW Motorsport Action: