Audi Sport technical director Jorg Zander will join Sauber for the 2017 Formula One season, the team have announced.
Zander returns to the sport having formerly worked for Toyota, BAR, Sauber, Williams, Honda and Brawn GP during the 2000s.
He moves to the team following Audi’s decision to leave the World Endurance Championship at the end of 2016, having been in his current position with the German manufacturer since early 2015.
The German said that he was pleased to be rejoining the team following a 10-year absence from their Hinwil headquarters, having last worked there between 2006 and 2007.
“I am delighted to return to the Sauber F1 Team in my adopted home country of Switzerland,” Zander said.
“After many years at the top level in endurance motorsport, I am very pleased to become technical director and to undertake the challenge with Monisha Kaltenborn, the team, all the outstanding engineers and mechanics in the new era of Formula One.”
Zander revealed that he was excited to work with the new technical regulations coming for the 2017 season onwards and with trying to move the team out of its current position in the sport’s pecking order.
Sauber will have the use of a year-old Ferrari engine for next season as they look to move out of its current position of 11th in the championship following a tough season in 2016.
“The new F1 regulations offer a great opportunity to point the way with innovations and technical creativity. One of my tasks will be to define a stable and efficient technical organisation that evolves the potential of creativity and, therefore, the basis for the development of successful F1 cars.
“Initially we obviously want to improve and establish ourselves as a team in the midfield. Overall it is a challenge which I await with excitement and enthusiasm.”
The 52-year-old is the latest person to join the ever-expanding team following the appointments of Xevi Pujolar as head of track engineering, Nicolas Hennel de Beaupreau as head of aerodynamics, and Ruth Buscombe as strategy engineer in recent months.
