Richards: Time is on our side - EXCLUSIVE.

by Russell Atkins

Prodrive chairman David Richards insists the Banbury-based concern will be present and correct on the starting grid at the first grand prix in 2008, despite suggestions the project is running dramatically behind schedule.

Key to the outfit's Formula One challenge will be its all-new, state-of-the-art research and design facility in Warwickshire, but this is not set to be completed until well into the 2008 season. Moreover, announcements regarding progress and recruitment of staff have thus far been rather thin on the ground, leaving some to surmise Richards may have bitten off more than he can chew. The former World Rally Championship-winning co-driver, however, ensures there is no reason to panic.

"People always think you've got to be out there building a factory and recruiting people and testing," he told Crash.net, "but the reality is with the strategy that we've taken - which is basically to partner one of the existing teams - we've still got a little bit of time on our side.

"That's not to say we are not pressing on with things, but we are still at the stage where we are in negotiations to try and form that partnership. We've got discussions that are ongoing. It's probably inappropriate for me to say exactly what stage they are at, but they are progressing reasonably well."

Richards said news of appointments and developments was now not far away, and added he was confident everything was running according to plan.

"Clearly it will ramp up the closer we get," he acknowledged. "We will be announcing a few key recruitments in the next month or two, and then putting the infrastructure in place. The factory at Fen End just outside Warwick will take two years to build, so it won't be ready in time for the 2008 season. We will have to have an interim solution to that which we are already working on. Apart from that we don't actually anticipate running the car in testing until December, so we've got a little time yet."

One thing in Prodrive's favour is the fact both Richards and a number of staff have prior experience of working in the top flight, from the days when the 54-year-old was in charge of Benetton (1998) and BAR (2002-04).

"We've got people inside the company who have been actively involved in the sport before," he said, "whether during the original time when I was running Benetton or more recently when I ran the BAR team, so there's a lot of experience there of certain aspects of the business. We are going to rely on the transfer of certain key people from the partner team as well.

"2008 will see a significant change in the rules once again though, and when rule changes take place an opportunity to look at things differently affords itself. We need to make sure that's something we take advantage of."

In the meantime, Richards said he believed Formula One could be in for one of its most exciting and unpredictable campaigns in years in 2007, and one that should provide a golden chance for young British talent to shine.

"Certainly it will be slightly unpredictable now," he agreed, "with so many new faces there. I would hope Britain is going to be very well-represented on the grid this year, probably moreso than for many years, and some of them have a great chance of success. Jenson (Button) proved his performance in the latter part of last year, Lewis Hamilton is hopefully going to be in the right car this year and I'm so pleased to see Anthony Davidson finally getting his opportunity too.

"I don't think there was a dry eye in Britain when Jenson finally got his first win in Hungary. He did a very good job on the day, took all the opportunities that were afforded to him and delivered the result. It's easy to say other people had problems, but you still have to make the race your own even if that does happen. Honda proved in the latter part of last year that they were very strong, and if they can carry that through into this year too then they will start off extremely well."