David Richards awarded CBE
Departing BAR boss David Richards has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List for his services to the motorsport industry
Richards, 52, founded the consultancy and engineering firm Prodrive in 1984, which has since become the world's largest independent motorsport company, employing nearly 900 people with an annual turnover of £110 million.
The firm has long had a major foothold in both road racing and rallying: Prodrive-run teams have won six World Rally Championship titles and five British Touring Car Championships and Prodrive built, developed and raced the Ferrari 550 Maranello cars that competed successfully in American Le Mans Series events from 2001-03, scoring five class wins in the ALMS as well as a GTS class win at Le Mans in 2003.
Richards is best known to Formula 1 fans for his time at the helm of the Benetton and BAR teams. The ebullient, cigar-smoking Briton was hired by BAR's majority owner British American Tobacco to manage the team at the end of 2001, since when he has elevated BAR from the status of midfield also-ran to Ferrari's closest challenger in the 2004 constructors' championship.
Despite his successful record, Richards was ousted from the Brackley-based team in November when Honda bought into BAR and began instituting a new management structure, although he will stay on the scene until the end of February to facilitate a smooth transition to his successor Nick Fry.
Among the many strings to his bow, Richards owns the commercial rights to the World Rally Championship, having acquired them from Bernie Ecclestone in 2000.
Albuquerque urges IMSA to wait before making GTP BoP tweaks
Albuquerque urges IMSA to wait before making GTP BoP tweaks Albuquerque urges IMSA to wait before making GTP BoP tweaks
Jean-Pierre Jabouille obituary: F1 race winner dies aged 80
Jean-Pierre Jabouille obituary: F1 race winner dies aged 80 Jean-Pierre Jabouille obituary: F1 race winner dies aged 80
Williams 2023 F1 car an "evolution" despite key differences
Williams 2023 F1 car an "evolution" despite key differences Williams 2023 F1 car an "evolution" despite key differences
Tanak: National rally outing “important” for WRC Sweden prep
Tanak: National rally outing “important” for WRC Sweden prep Tanak: National rally outing “important” for WRC Sweden prep
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues
How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1 How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.