David Richards, head of Aston Martin and Prodrive had announced their intention to have a team in Formula1 before, but recently he visited Abu Dhabi, the motoring capital of middle east to talk to some of the investors who like to back a team formed by Mr.Richards and his crew but for the Gulf. Thanks to the region’s wealth and low cost of running almost everything, it sounds like a terrific opportunity for both parties to try this field. And of course with that magnificent Formula circuits at hand, Arabs are thinking why shouldn’t we have our own team on the grid?! Richards approves of that saying this part of world is ideal for establishing something like this.
There are vast areas of skilled expertise and semi-skilled workers that we can tap into and energy is not an issue because commodities like petrol are so cheap.I have every reason to feel that our operation here could be very beneficial to the region.
Richards is expecting as many as five other applications to come in during the month from aspiring Formula One competitors.
“The FIA would make a judgement on the most appropriate entries to accept,” he said.
“I hope that our credentials stand us in good stead. We have been there before and done it before in most forms of motorsport.”
Richards, 56, who is intending to take a low profile role in the new set-up and appoint a younger person as team principal, indicated he is going to capitalise on the return of the legendary Cosworth engine to Formula One.
“There are several established engines now that we could use but but Cosworth are about to come back,” he said.
“Anybody will remember the famous V8 engine that dominated for decades. They were the bedrock of F1. They have introduced an engine for next year and that might be a viable alternative to going with one of the established engines out there today.”
As for drivers of the new cars, Richards was guarded about making any unsettling comments.
“That has to be the final piece of the jigsaw.It all goes in tandem. We have to make sure that we have the establishment in place first,” he said.
“Then we put the finance and the personnel of the team in place and then we work on getting the drivers.”
The driver he knows best from his previous dalliances with Formula One is leading the world championship.
Richards was in charge of the BAR team in 2004 when Jenson Button finished third to Michael Schmacher in the drivers’ championship.
“I have known Jenson since his karting days.” he said.
“I knew he had the attributes then to become world champion and, fingers crossed, that might come to him this year.
“I was so pleased to see him win three times this season. He is an underestimated talent and always has been in my view.
“When Renault cast him to one side, I picked him up and put him in our team at BAR. Put him in the right car as we have seen this year and he’s away. He is one of the smoothest drivers on the track.”
source: National newspaper
