Following the commencement in 1977 of Renault's Formula One project with a turbocharged engine and increasing success thereafter, BMW decided to develop its own turbo engine for the sport, a programme which it announced to the media in April 1980.
Tralo inicio en 1977 do proxecto de Renault dun motor turboalimentado e o seu éxito a partir de entón, BMW decidiu desenvolver o seu propio motor turbo, un programa que anunciou aos medios de comunicación en abril de 1980.