Engineers rarely enjoy celebrity status.

But BMW engineer Paul Rosche – who passed away this week aged 82 – is known for producing some of the greatest production and motorsport engines we’ve ever seen.

Munich-born Rosche worked for BMW from 1957 to 1999, credited with some of the brand’s most renowned mills that lived in McLaren’s F1, BMW’s Formula One cars, and also its most iconic M Machines.

We salute the man with a roll-call on some of his finest achievements…

1. Brabham BT52 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Brabham BT52 F1 car
Mc Laren F1 6.1-litre V12

Of the maximum output potential of this hi-po four, Rosche said: “It must have been around 1400hp [1044kW]; we don’t know for sure because the dyno didn’t go beyond 1280hp [955kW].”

2. McLaren F1 6.1-litre V12

McLaren F1 6.1 litre V12
Mc Laren -F1-car

This was 1993 – but the V12 went on to win LeMans for McLaren in 1995 and BMW in 1999; the latter Rosche’s retirement year.

3. BMW E30 M3 S14 four-cylinder

BMW E30 M3 with engines
BMW E30 M3

From its 2.3-litre capacity the 1986 M3 produced 143kW at 6750rpm and 240Nm at 4750rpm – the latter more than 100Nm per litre, and this from 30 years ago.

Before finishing production in 1990, the final M3 Evo was enlarged to 2.5 litres and produced 175kW at a heady 7000rpm.

Vale Paul Rosche, April 1 1934 – November 15 2016.