F1 spot goes to Pro

The man who steers the Ford Performance Racing team has won a place in Formula One.

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David Richards, the FPR supremo who leads Subaru in the World Rally Championship and Aston Martin in sports-car racing, has won the new grand prix team licence for 2008 as the FIA moves to expand the field to 12 teams.

Richards and his Prodrive operation won the right to join the 11 teams now competing in F1 from some powerful counter-bidders, including former team owner Eddie Jordan and a Japanese consortium led by former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi.

He has been a grand prix boss twice before, with Benetton and BAR-Honda, but this will be a new deal with a team created from his Prodrive operation in Britain.

Richards has already shown plans for a huge new F1 operation, called The Crucible, at a disused airfield he owns.

"This is wonderful news for everyone in the company. We have won World Rally championships, British Touring Car titles and the GT1 class at Le Mans, and have been saying for some time we would like to be in Formula One. We are one step closer," Richards says.

His selection was confirmed by the president of the FIA, the world governing body of motorsport, Max Mosley.

"Prodrive has the best combination of financial backing, technical capability and motorsport experience and is known to the FIA through its participation in the World Rally Championship. And Prodrive's chief executive, David Richards, has experience as a Formula One team principal," Mosley says.

The move is unlikely to affect FPR or Prodrive's other operations in Australia, though its V8 Supercar drivers are probably dreaming about an F1 call-up.

Jason Bright, who leads the FPR Falcon team in V8 Supercar racing, has been drafted into the Aston Martin team this year for several sports-car races.

The increase to 12 teams in Formula One comes as the FIA looks to cut the cost of owning and operating a grand prix team. Final rules are still being drafted, but they could allow Prodrive to buy a car from an existing team.

As yet, Richards has not revealed any manufacturer support. This is considered crucial for success in F1.

"We are confident the new regulations will not only allow Prodrive to be competitive on an affordable budget, but will make Formula One more exciting and, ultimately, even more entertaining for spectators and TV audiences around the world," Richards says.

Mosley says he is happy with the response to the 12th-team vacancy.

"I was delighted, but not entirely surprised. Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport and, thanks to the new regulations brought in for 2008, it is potentially open to more teams," Mosley says.

"What pleased me most was the high calibre of entries received. With this kind of demand Formula One has a bright future."

For Richards and Prodrive, acceptance of the entry for 2008 is only the start.

"An entry is just the beginning. We now have less than two years to build a team and put two competitive cars on the starting grid for the first race of the 2008 championship," he says.

"The task is enormous and the expertise and experience of the established teams well recognised. But Prodrive has more than 20 years of motorsport experience and we all relish a challenge."

Source: 05 May 2006 Paul Gover Herald Sun