David Richards intends to give his Prodrive team a late start despite the more than thirteen months until its 2008 debut.

It has emerged that not only will the first of the Warwickshire-based team’s cars not hit a winter test track until December this year, the new F1 factory is unlikely to be ready before the mid-point of the ‘08 season.

Richards is still in negotiations with possible ‘partner’ teams for the Prodrive foray, after he revealed that he is looking to buy a complete rolling chassis as well as an engine.

The 54-year-old Briton said recently that he hoped to unveil the identity of the partner, which is strongly rumoured to be McLaren-Mercedes, within the next three months.

“And following that, and during that period even, we will start to announce some key appointments,” he added.

[GMM]

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