Richards linked with Honda rescue

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Dec 13:47:00 2008

Prodrive chief David Richards is reported to have flown to the Middle East for talks regarding a possible deal to save the Honda Formula One team.

FORMULA 1 2007 David Richards Prodrive - 0

Richards was one of the first names mentioned as a possible saviour of the Brackley-based outfit when Honda revealed it was withdrawing from the sport, having failed with his own bid to bring Prodrive onto the grid this season.

According to Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper, Richards flew to the Middle East on Friday night to begin talks with potential investors who have expressed interest in possibly getting involved in a rescue deal.

Richards already has strong links with the Middle East after selling a stake in Prodrive to the Kuwaiti investors The Investment Dar Company, and he said that a deal could be possible 'if the timing is right'.

"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," he said. "But we have to agree when the timing is right.

"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.

"You will have to bridge a big gap in finance, probably for three years, before balancing the accounts."

Richards added that he needed to be sure that a move into F1 wasn't too big a challenge in the current economic downturn, one which has already hit Prodrive after Subaru's withdrawal from the World Rally Championship.

"It [Subaru's withdrawal] affects about 20 per cent of our business, but we are financially sound and have a talented, nimble organisation with a strong automotive arm looking at future technologies," he said. "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."

Reuters

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  1. 'tis the 'witching hour methinks. Goodbye­ cruel world, I'm off to join the circus.

    From m.e.jenner, on Mon 22 Dec 12:09AM

  2. 'Time for bed' said Dougal.

    From m.e.jenner, on Sun 21 Dec 11:58PM

  3. Chris T: Thay are coming to take control of the pages,­ let the madness commence

    From ginger_gitt, on Sun 21 Dec 11:43PM

  4. Glock and Trulli posted virtually the same last lap­ time on dry tyres on a wet track. Vettel passed Glock­ first so for these stupid theories to be substantiated­ he must have been complicit as well. If the fia had not­ robbed Hamilton in Belgium none of this talk would­ exist. Simply the kid is different class!

    From markrose260, on Sun 21 Dec 11:32PM

  5. Having to do this one line at a time due to­ 'invalid comment nonsesnse

    From markrose260, on Sun 21 Dec 11:30PM

  6. Glock was on dry tyres on a wet track - end of story

    From markrose260, on Sun 21 Dec 11:29PM

  7. Throb, throb, throb - anyone got a scalpel??

    From m.e.jenner, on Sun 21 Dec 11:29PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i must admit after reading some of these posts Touron­ does have a point.
    Why did glok slow down so much in­ the last lap..
    Why was glok driving on the wet side of­ the track in the last few remaining bends allowing­ hamilton to take the inside DRY line to victory.­
    HHHmmmmmm.....seems a little suspicious to me...Can­ anyone enlighten me as to why Glok was on wet side of­ track in last few bends, considering he had slicks on­ and all
    Whats it all about..
    Why cant this question­ be answered especially by mclaren fans and especially­ by Doughnut Ray $%^&...
    Why has the evidence­ ie..the last lap of the brazilian GB especially the­ last few corners been removed from You Tube..
    Why do­ Mclaren fans keep running away from this question and­ the Truth..
    people keep saying wait till jeremey­ clarkson show..all will be revealed...
    i mean­ considering glok was on slick tyres why was he driving­ right in the wet line of the track on the last few­ corners..everyone keeps saying they are surprised he­ finished at all considering the conditions...Various­ posts state it was like an ice rink...
    So why was Glok­ driving in the WET on SLICKS on the WET LINE NOT/ THE­ DRY LINE on the last few bends....please tell im­ waiting and have been all Day and probably will be for­ a long time yet.­
    SHUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­
    77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777­
    TIMESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS­
    WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD­
    CHAMPIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
    LOVE­ ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT­
    RAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
    THIS­ RECORD WILL NEVER BE MATCHED!!!!!!!!!!!
    ps...for the­ record any driver who won the title this year was going­ to inherit a phoney crown After the season weve­ had,,,HOLD YOUR HEADS IN SHAME MCLAREN!!!

    From , on Sun 21 Dec 11:23PM

  9. Speaking of lancing the boil, can somebody drain the­ bile from bernard, even if it leaves him just as the­ empty shell we have all come to despise!

    From CG V, on Sun 21 Dec 11:22PM

  10. Blimey, we've managed 4 posts without being­ interrupted.......

    From m.e.jenner, on Sun 21 Dec 11:12PM

  11. m.e. Jenner.
    Yuk!

    But a good simile. Getting rid of­ pus and infection and cleansing with new blood.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sun 21 Dec 11:07PM

  12. It's a bit like a boil being lanced - messy and­ disgusting, but oh so much better when it's healed­ over. Here's hoping - wouldn't it be great to­ be able to relax and chat away without all this­ corruption - strong word, but sadly true after all that­ is being squeezed out into the open. (Sorry if anyone­ is having a late supper !) Oh, and Chris T the weirdos­ are waiting for the 'witching hour to recharge­ their acid batteries.

    From m.e.jenner, on Sun 21 Dec 11:01PM

  13. Chris T: It's a day ending in the letter y,­ they're all currently in their bedrooms praying to­ the Almighty Cheeseboard, for he bringeth forth the­ dairy products upon which we munch.

    And lets hope­ Bernie and Max's recent attitudes and comments­ towards Ferrari and their openness in the media is the­ start of something good to come - a transparent and­ fair sport we can all support

    From ginger_gitt, on Sun 21 Dec 10:51PM

  14. Agreed Ginger!
    -As long as we really see some­ restructuring.
    The comment was to provoke discussion-­ and weed out the weirdos!
    Some of them are noticeably­ absent.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sun 21 Dec 10:10PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    NO NEED TO APLOGISE YOU ANSWERED NOTHING AGAIN,, GLOK­ MORE THAN ALLOWED HAMILTON TO PASS IN THE DRY INSIDE­ LINE DIDNT HE,, ITS NOT EVEN OPEN TO QUESTION REALLY IS­ IT..
    I TAKE IT YOU WATCHED THE RACE,,TRULIS TIME IS­ IRRELEVANT,, ITS PLAIN TO SEE CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY TO­ ME THAT GLOK WAS REALLY FIGHTING FOR HES PLACE WHEN­ HAMILTON PASSED,
    REALLY PUSHING WASNT HE ...DO ME A­ FAVOUR ,,BEING A HAMILTON FAN YOUR ONLY SEEING WHAT YOU­ WANTED TO SEE,, END OF GLOK ALLOWED HAMILTON TO PASS­ VERY TAMELY ITS PLAIN TO SEE,, NO WAY WAS HE FIGHTING­ TO HOLD ONTO 5TH PLACE,,ITS THERE FOR THE WORLD TO­ SEE,,AND AS FOR LOSING 18 SECS IN 1 LAP,,DONT CARE IF­ GLOK WAS DRIVING A SHOPPING TROLLEY PAUL,,NO­ EXCUSES,,YOU KEEP DREMING,, ANY DRIVER WHO WON THE­ TITLE THIS YEAR WAS ALWAYS GOING TO INHERIT A PHONEY­ CROWN...LIVE WITH HAMILTON FANS AND ACCEPT..LOL

    From , on Sun 21 Dec 10:03PM

  16. Chris T: It could be the perfect time to enter though.­ If this is all coming out now and the sport is forced­ to rethink things as a whole, being involved at the­ beginning of any restructuring, redevelopment or­ renegotiating of contracts could be perfect for any­ newcomer to the game.

    From ginger_gitt, on Sun 21 Dec 10:00PM

  17. Anyway.
    Back to the article.
    Dave Richards would be mad­ to enter F1 until this fixing scandal is straightened­ out and the crooks kicked out or put in prison.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sun 21 Dec 9:40PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SHUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­
    77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777­
    TIMESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS­
    WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD­
    CHAMPIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
    LOVE­ ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT­
    RAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
    THIS­ RECORD WILL NEVER BE MATCHED!!!!!!!!!!!
    ps...for the­ record any driver who won the title this year was going­ to inherit a phoney crown After the season weve­ had,,,HOLD YOUR HEADS IN SHAME MCLAREN!!!

    From , on Sun 21 Dec 9:35PM

  19. Ray you Muppet ,,,,why would i want to use your foul­ mouthed name ...lol

    From , on Sun 21 Dec 9:33PM

  20. Oh dear!
    Which one of you children have I­ upset?
    Whoever you are fake RAY T. Pull your pants back­ up and get washed and dressed for bed before mummy­ catches you.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sun 21 Dec 9:32PM
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