28/02/2006
NEWS STORY
According to reports, Prodrive boss, David Richards, who has many courtiers within the British media, is slowly moving towards setting up his own Formula One team.
Having enjoyed successful stints with both Benetton and BAR, there has always been a feeling that for Richards, F1 is 'unfinished business', and consequently the Englishman has been linked with various projects both existing and yet to be established.
David Lapworth, previously performance director of Prodrive's Subaru world rally team, has left his post to concentrate on "unspecified projects", which has led to speculation that an in-house F1 project is now underway.
Previously, Richards had said that he would not consider entering F1 until it became affordable, and indeed viable as a business, recent moves by the FIA would appear to have convinced him that that day is fast approaching.
Although he is commercial rights holder for the World Rally Championship, a series which is clearly in decline, Richards is rarely out of the F1 headlines, and a return as entrant seems inevitable.