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Richards Considers F1 Return

Prodrive's David Richards confirmed interest to make F1 return starting next year. With Subaru deciding to immediately withdraw from the WRC due to financial problems, Richards' company is now looking for new ways to develop their future motorsport programmes. He admitted that FIA's latest cost-cutting plan for 2010 has made the sport more attractive to independent companies.

“It certainly clears the decks and gives me a bit of spare time to think about it. The new structure for F1 from 2010 onwards, with new regulations coming and very significant cost- cutting programmes, certainly make it more appealing and far more suitable for a company such as ours. What’s on the table today makes it far more feasible,” Richards was quoted by British newspaper The Sun earlier today.

The man who has been in charge of Subaru's WRC programme for the past 20 years is no stranger to the F1 action. The Welsh has ran Benetton's operations in the Great Circle in 1997, following the Enstone-based team parting ways with Flavio Briatore. He left Benetton after only one year.

His second experience in F1 was connected with the former BAR outfit. Prodrive was brought in to run BAR's operations in the championship in 2001, with Richards taking a leading role in the new organization. His partnership with BAR finished the moment Japanese manufacturer Honda took over their racing programme in 2004.

Prodrive were also granted access by the FIA to Formula 1 as an independent team in 2008, but Richards decided not to go through with it (despite having secured an agreement with McLaren Mercedes for engine & car supply). He then argued his decision by the fact that the Concorde Agreement did not allow customer cars into the sport.

However, with the new regulations introduced by the FIA for 2010 – standard engine, transmission suspension, cheaper car parts & power plants and fuel ban – Richards is also rumored to be considering a Honda F1 team buyout for the upcoming season.
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