[Shiba-Kun]

Hmmm... now we know what Richards has been doing with his spare time LOL! :lol2 I wonder who'll be their engine supplier? Hyundai or Scooby Doo have been hinted at in the past, but maybe it's a current F1 engine builder? :confused



Prodrive to enter Formula One

28 April 2006

The FIA this morning announced that David Richards' Prodrive was accepted as the latest Formula 1 entry as of 2008. Prodrive was chosen as it has the best combination of financial backing and motor sport experience.

"Prodrive has the best combination of financial backing, technical capability and motor sport experience and is well known to the FIA through its participation in the World Rally Championship," explained FIA President Max Mosley. "Also, Prodrive's chief executive, David Richards, has experience as a Formula One team principal."

The FIA received 11 applications of new teams that were interested to enter F1 in 2008.

 

[Shiba-Kun]

Further Prodrive info:




Richards happy with confirmed F1 entry

28 April 2006

Today, Prodrive was confirmed as one of the 12 teams, which have gained entry to the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship. "This is wonderful news for everyone in the company," said David Richards, chairman of Prodrive.


"We have won World Rally Championships, British Touring Car titles and the GT1 class at Le Mans, and have been saying for some time that we would also like to be in Formula One with our own Prodrive team. We are now one step closer."

While this will be the first time Prodrive competes in Formula One, David Richards and his management team have extensive experience of the series having managed the BAR F1 team from 2002 to 2004 - taking it to second place in the 2004 manufacturers' championship. David Richards was also team principal for the Benetton F1 team in 1998.

The FIA is introducing new regulations for Formula One, which will come into effect for the 2008 season. Richards said: "We are confident that the new regulations will not only allow Prodrive to be competitive on an affordable budget, but will also make Formula One more exciting and, ultimately, even more entertaining for spectators and TV audiences around the world."

Prodrive has already made plans to house its Formula One team in a new purpose-built operation in Warwickshire. This is part of a larger development to support the UK's automotive and motorsport industries and is still subject to planning permission. Should this be granted, construction would commence at the end of this year. In the meantime, Prodrive will run the F1 programme from its existing facilities.

"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. The task is enormous and the expertise and experience of the established teams well recognised. However, Prodrive has more than 20 years of motorsport experience and all of us relish a challenge," said Richards.

 

[theflipimage]

it's most likely gonna be hyundai...
with them expanding rapidly, it would make sense they would want to step more into the limelight with an entrance into f1...

subaru i highly doubt, what with them concentrating on boxer engines and their instant recognition and success in rallying.

 

[ThirdLane]

definitely Hyundai

 

[Boski]

i wouldn't count out subaru just yet, prodrive has a good relationship with them....but its still early in the game, my gut though says they'll go with a current engine manufacture

 

[Shiba-Kun]

Hyundai has there own problems too. I think today their chairman got indicted in South Korea on criminal charges.

Cosworth maybe could take on an additional client...? :confused

 

[Shiba-Kun]

Here's a couple links to the problems Hyundai is facing.

One on Hyundai cutting back on projects:
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200604/200604280025.html

One on the chairman's problems:
http://www.forbes.com/business/manufacturing/feeds/ap/2006/04/26/ap2701223.html