Formula One news

Prodrive back in the picture

Possibilities of the Prodrive team making a Formula One debut have increased after the announcement of the FIA's 2010 budget cap on Thursday. The spending limit is designed to encourage new outfits to take part in the sport as well as assisting the secure future of current competitors.

As well as the £40 million annual cap, the governing body also revealed that Formula One Management (FOM) will pay a US$10m participation fee to new entrants on the grid, as well as giving away free transportation for cars and equipment plus 20 economy class air tickets for all long haul flights to races outside of Europe.

Dave Richards, Prodrive owner

"The new regulations announced by the FIA are very much in line with what we were expecting," said Prodrive owner Dave Richards, whose squad withdrew an entry to the 2008 championship after the rule change ceasing the use of customer cars. "We remain encouraged by the new rules, which have the potential for a team to be commercially viable and competitive on a far more realistic budget. We also welcome the confirmation that FOM will provide financial support to the new teams," he told The Guardian.

"However, it is important for us and our partners that there is stability in the sport with broad alignment on the future direction of Formula One, and this will be a critical issue in our decision-making process." The FIA has now confirmed places on the grid for three new teams next year, in an effort to bolster the line-up to 26 cars. As well as Warwickshire-based Prodrive the USGPE, Lola and iSport teams have also expressed their interest towards F1.

The Prodrive background is a successful one, having claimed numerous race wins in GT races and the British Touring Car Championship, to name just two. One particularly special achievement for the establishment was building the car with which Britain's first World Rally title was clinched, courtesy of Colin McRae in 1995.

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