Prodrive signs title sponsor

[davewilson]

Prodrive has already attracted a title sponsor for the British squad's inaugural season in Formula One next year.

That is the claim of boss David Richards, who told the German specialist magazine: "The contract is signed."

He has previously revealed that the team will begin testing in December of this year, and this week revealed that the existing Formula One outfit that will furnish Prodrive with cars and engines in 2008 will be revealed "soon".

The hot tip is McLaren-Mercedes, and Richards' assertion that the driver lineup will be a young rookie alongside a veteran has led some to look in the direction of the Woking-based team's test duo Gary Paffett and Pedro de la Rosa.

Tellingly, Paffett has signed only a one-season contract to race in DTM this year, and he recently revealed: "I've always made my intentions clear that F1 is where I want to be in 2008.

"It's my aim to do my very best (this year) and to get prepared for 2008 and keep working with McLaren-Mercedes to that end."