Prodrive set to start recruiting

Richards' company was granted the 12th entry to the 2008 Formula One World Championship earlier this year, with the Scot admitting Prodrive are going to face a tough time preparing for the challenge ahead.

Prodrive are hoping to build a new factory to run their F1 team at Honiley in Warwickshire. In the meantime the team will be based at their current Banbury facility.

Richards will now begin the process of recruiting personnel for his squad, and autosport.com understands the Briton will visit the Magny-Cours paddock this weekend. Richards will be joined by former Prodrive marketing director Hugh Chambers, now acting as a consultant.

A source close to Richards told autosport.com that that their first visit will be "the first stage of what will become a concerted effort to recruit drivers, engineers, marketing personnel and, of course, sponsors, ready for Prodrive's entry into Formula One in 2008."

The team said earlier this year that David Lapworth, the former performance director of Prodrive's rally programme with Subaru, will be heavily involved in their Formula One plans.

Prodrive have also admitted they have held preliminary talks with Cosworth about an engine supply deal for 2008.