BMW confirm departure of engine expert Laurenz

SUZUKA, Japan, Oct 11 - BMW's Formula One engine expert Werner Laurenz has left the company and will be replaced by Heinz Paschen, the German carmaker said at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday.

Motorsport director Mario Theissen, whose engines power the Williams team, would not confirm that Laurenz was joining rivals Mercedes when asked at a news conference after Friday's practice.

A team statement said simply that he was looking for new challenges.

"Of course it's always a loss if a key figure leaves the team," said Theissen. "Werner Laurenz has been instrumental in getting the team up and running."

Mercedes, partners of the McLaren team, recently announced that they were taking full control of engine makers Ilmor but a spokesman was unable to comment on the speculation.

The BMW engine is widely considered to be the most powerful in Formula One at present.

Paschen joined BMW in 2000 after working for Toyota in designing the engine used by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, now with Williams, in the U.S. CART series.