BMW F1 team hire former Williams chief designer

LONDON, Apr 25 (Reuters) Former Williams chief designer Joerg Zander is joining rivals BMW Sauber in the same role from July, the Swiss-based Formula One team said today.

BMW were Williams' engine partners when the 42-year-old German joined the former world champions from BAR in September last year.

He was at Toyota from 1999 to 2002.

Williams, who now use Cosworth engines after the split with BMW, said last month that Zander had left them for personal reasons.

BMW said Zander would take up his new role of head of design at the Hinwil factory in Switzerland on July 1 and will report to technical director Willy Rampf.

''His experience will be an important asset to us,'' said BMW team boss Mario Theissen.

REUTERS DH RK1554