Richards' Prodrive eyes McLaren Link

[davewilson]

F1's twelfth team, Prodrive, could kick off its inaugural season in 2008 as a sort of McLaren 'B' team, it has emerged.

The outfit's principal, David Richards - who accompanied technical boss David Lapworth to Magny Cours - pointedly refused to dismiss the scenario in conversation with Racer magazine.

''I wouldn't rule that out,'' he said.

With the Jean Alesi-involved 'Direxiv' operation now dead in the water, Richards' team could inherit McLaren's willingness to sell a complete Mercedes-Benz-powered package to a customer team.

Richards suggested that Prodrive, short of money and time, might be an ideal partner for Ron Dennis' 'B' ambition.   The Briton said: ''We're looking in the short term to see what partnerships might be established in the medium term to make us competitive in the first two years.

''If a competitive package came along as a turn-key operation I would certainly consider that.''
Source GMM
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