Richards receives top MIA honour

In a ceremony at the House of Lords yesterday (Monday), Richards received the Motorsport Industry Association award for 'The most outstanding contribution to the UK motorsport industry'. Previous recipients have included: Bernie Ecclestone, Harvey Postlethwaite, Adrian Reynard, Sir Jackie Stewart and Ken Tyrrell.

Richards began his motorsport career as a professional rally co-driver, scoring victories with Ari Vatanen in the British and Scandinavian Championships, and winning the World Rally Championship in 1981. In 1984 he created Prodrive, the automotive technology business that now boasts a global turnover in excess of £100million and over 1,000 employees. In 1998, he became the chief executive of the Benetton Formula 1 team, although the association was relatively short-lived.

In April 2000, he purchased International Sportsworld Communicators, acquiring the TV and commercial rights to the FIA World Rally Championship. Last December, in addition to his Prodrive and ISC roles, he returned to F1 as Team Principal of BAR.

Richards received the MIA award from John Surtees MBE in front of more than 300 distinguished guests, including FIA president Max Mosley, Sir Stirling Moss, Murray Walker and Sir Frank Williams.