Richards: BAR Take Precedence over WRC

New British American Racing team principal David Richards has promised that his new role with the Brackley-based outfit will take precedence over his World Rally Championship commitments.

Richards' ISC company hold the commercial rights to the World Rally Championship and he is currently in negotiations to enhance the exposure given to the sport. But the one-time Benetton team-boss has said that his new position with BAR takes priority in the coming years, with a management team looking after the WRC interests.

"Clearly this is going to take the principle effort in the short to medium term, but I am very committed to it (WRC)," Richards said at the launch of the BAR004 in Brackley on Tuesday. "I have spent the last two years setting it up and there is a great management team in place. I am confident they will achieve what we set out to do.

"I have had discussions (with manufacturers) over the last 24 hours. They share my confidence in the team of people and they wish me success."

Richards said that he has used his time outside of Formula One since leaving Benetton in 1998 to plan another shot at the Formula One world championship, and he believes that BAR provide him an opportunity to achieve his dream.

"I have used the intervening years to find the ingredients to build a winning team," he added. "I would only return if all the ingredients were in place and I believe they are here. The key ingredient for success is stability. I believe in the proper process of putting the right people in place. You can't pre-judge things, today is the first day in the office and I will be meeting the key people but we will see in the next four months how it goes.

"It is exciting times, but we have to be realistic. There are always short term pressures, but we have to look at the next race, but I always believe in a proper strategic plan, and I think there is one here. That is what convinced me that this is the right operation to be in."

But he said: "One individual can't make a substantial difference but I suppose I come with a clear track record of success in various disciplines of motorsport.

"A year in Formula One is a long time and I certainly came away understanding the ingredients for success. It is not an easy task, but I am confident that everything is there for us to achieve success."

No Illusion

"I came away understanding what those ingredients for success were," he said of his time at Benetton. "I come here under no illusion, it's not an easy task."

Richards' return also means that three of the top Formula One figures are former rally co-drivers. Toyota team principal Ove Andersson, a Swede, started in rallying and oversaw the Japanese manufacturer's rally operations while Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt had a successful earlier career at Peugeot.

"I had dinner with Jean on Friday night," said Richards. "We were discussing when I won the championship 20 years ago and he was second. I committed to be the bane of his life for a few more years yet."