Apr.30 (GMM) The German manufacturer BMW has no plans to drop 'Sauber' from the name of its Swiss based formula one team in the very near future.

As BMW-Sauber edges closer to the ultimate pace, it is rumoured that team owner BMW might want to be going it alone in the naming stakes by the time it is within sight of a world championship title.

Indeed, many pundits already refer to the Hinwil based outfit solely as 'BMW', leading the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell to ask team boss Mario Theissen if the name should also officially be changed.

"I am personally quite calm about this issue," the German is quoted as answering.

Theissen explained that BMW opted for the official name 'BMW-Sauber' towards the end of 2005, in honour of the existing Peter Sauber-run organisation that it had bought into.

"So far there has been no reconsideration. If this view were to change, it would be for marketing reasons," he added.

Theissen pointed out that, unlike ING Renault or Vodafone McLaren, BMW has also been reluctant to sell the team's naming rights to a corporate backer.

"So far it has been our clear objective to have the BMW brand in the foreground," he explained, adding that advertising space on the cars has even been limited for the same reason.