Richards plans F1 comeback

Richards, who runs the Subaru World Rally team, has revealed that the outfit is interested in entering the sport.

'We are in the throes of doing something at the moment,' he said.

'There are four criteria to meet as far as F1 and Prodrive are concerned. 1) It involves Prodrive and not just me personally. 2) It has to be manufacturer-linked. 3) It's got to be potentially competitive in the short to medium term. 4) It's got to be commercially viable for all concerned.

'If you look at those criteria you will see that there are very few opportunities that will fit. But there are some.

'We are now ready to move at very short notice should the right situation arise.'

Toyota is believed to have bagged the final 12th slot on the F1 grid, which means that Prodrive would have to take over an existing outfit.

For more on this story, read this week's Autosport magazine.