By Phil Huff (01/02/2004)
February 1 2004

After studying for five years as an accountant, David established his early career as a professional rally co-driver, competing for the factory teams of Leyland, Opel and Ford, over a period of six years. While with the Ford Motor Company, he co-drove Ari Vatanen to victory in the British and Scandinavian Championships, and concluded this part of his career by winning the World Rally Championship title in 1981.

In the mid 1970s, David established a motorsport consultancy and following retirement from active competition at the end of the 1981 season, he devoted his full energies to developing this business, which continued to expand its scope and led to the formation of his own rally team and the creation of Prodrive in 1984. The company moved from Silverstone to its present site in Banbury, Oxfordshire, where it has now grown into a global £110 million motorsport and automotive technology business under David's direction.

During the late 1980s, Prodrive enjoyed successful relationships managing race and rally programmes with Porsche, BMW and MG. In 1990, the company formed its most successful and longest standing partnership with Subaru to run its World Rally Championship programme. Since then, Prodrive has won five world titles - three manufacturers' in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and two drivers' for Colin McRae in 1995 and Richard Burns in 2001.

During the 1990s, alongside Subaru in rallying, Prodrive formed partnerships with BMW, Honda, Alfa Romeo and Ford in touring car racing, securing the British Touring Car Championship 5 times. In 2001, Prodrive entered sports car racing netting victories in the FIA GT Championship with its Ferrari 550 GT Maranello and in 2002, Prodrive ran the Volvo team in the European Touring Car Championship.

David complemented his position as chairman of Prodrive by taking on the role of chief executive for the Benetton Formula One team for the 1998 season.

In April 2000, David purchased International Sportsworld Communicators (ISC), acquiring the television and commercial rights to the FIA World Rally Championship and has now built a team focused on transforming the Championship into a mainstream entertainment package.

In December 2001, in addition to his roles at ISC and Prodrive, David returned to Formula One as Team Principal of BAR, where he is tasked with the challenge of transforming the team into a future World Championship contender.