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Richards heading back to Honda?
By Phil Huff
December 23 2008
David Richards and his Prodrive company may be heading back to Brackley, as it appears that the previous BAR-Honda chief is looking for financial support in preparation for a full bid on the team. However, more potential buyers appear almost daily, with the latest rumours being that Mexican Carlos Slim Helu could mount a bid with his TelMex firm, alongside GP2 and A1GP team chief Adrian Campos.

Rumours also suggest that Force India owner Vijay Mallya may be wanting to get his hands on the Brackley teams facilities.

While Nick Fry talks of 'several' offers, we understand there's three serious offers, with two particularly viable. Richards' bid is one of the latter, thanks to support from the Kuwaiti Investment Dar Company, who currently hold a 40% stake in Prodrive.

"There are a group of people in the Middle East who want to support a Formula One entry for me and have been very specific about it for a year now," Richards told the Mail on Sunday, "but we have to agree when the timing is right."

Prodrive did win the 12th grid slot last year, but pulled out following disagreements over customer car use. The team was intending to use customer McLaren cars for some years before gradually expanding to be a full constructor. The risks involved in going in to F1 as a constructor immediately were too large, and Prodrive withdrew their entry.

Whilst purchasing the Honda facility will offer the team a quick and cheap way in to the sport, it's also not without risk, with an absolute minimum of £100m a year being required to compete.

"When you sit down in the cold light of day and realise the liability you would be taking on, and the huge restructuring of staff and resources that will be needed, investors will have to think long and hard before taking a punt" explained Richards. "You will have to bridge a big gap in finance, probably for three years, before balancing the accounts. Sentiment and perception about the relevance of motorsport has changed in six weeks with the dramatic economic downturn. I have not ruled out getting back into Formula One, it's something I am very interested to do. But the big question remains: Is it too big a challenge at this moment in time? That's what I need to determine."

The challenge could be a little easier, following Subaru's exit from the World Rally Championship, as Prodrive were responsible for preparing the famous blue rally cars.

"I can focus now on where we want to be long term," Richards told BBC Oxford. "Who knows? That might be in Formula One."

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