Prodrive

Last updated

Prodrive
Company type Private
Industry Motorsport
Advanced Technology
Founded1984
Headquarters Banbury, England
Key people
David Richards (founder and chairman)
Website Prodrive.com

Prodrive is an English motorsport and advanced engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The company has had significant success running motorsport programmes for various automobile manufacturers, including wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and championship wins in the World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship and British Touring Car Championship.

Contents

History

Prodrive was founded in 1984 by Ian Parry and David Richards. [1] The company initially ran Porsche 911 rally and Porsche 959 rally raid cars. [1] [2]

Jacques Villeneuve driving for the Prodrive-run BAR team in 2003 Villeneuve BAR USGP 2003.jpg
Jacques Villeneuve driving for the Prodrive-run BAR team in 2003

Formula One

Prodrive ran the British American Racing team between 2002 and 2004, finishing 2nd overall in the constructors championship in 2004. [1] [3]

On 28 April 2006, Prodrive were officially granted entry to F1 when the FIA announced the list of entrants to the 2008 Formula One World Championship. [4] It was announced on 23 November 2007 that Prodrive F1 would not compete in the 2008, as the legal situation left no time for the team to be set up for the start of the season. [5]

On 23 April 2009, Prodrive issued a press release stating that they were considering an F1 entry for the 2010 season, possibly under the Aston Martin Racing brand. [6] [7] On 29 May 2009, it was reported that Prodrive had submitted a formal application for the 2010 season. However, Prodrive was not accepted to the final grid. Prodrive was one of two potential buyers considered by the Renault F1 Team to take-over the team prior to the 2010 season. [8] In April 2010 Prodrive announced it would not apply for the 2011 Formula One season. The slot became available after US F1 Team collapsed. [9]

Sportscars

Aston Martin DBR9, which won the GT1 class at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans Aston Martin DBR9 LM08.jpg
Aston Martin DBR9, which won the GT1 class at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans

In 2001, Prodrive developed and built the Ferrari 550 GTS to compete in the GT1 category, without any support from the Ferrari factory. [10] Ten cars were built over 4 years, run by both Prodrive and private customers. A Prodrive-run car won the GTS class at the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a BMS Scuderia Italia-run car won the FIA GT Championship in both 2003 and 2004. [2] [11]

In 2004, Aston Martin Racing was established as partnership between Prodrive and Aston Martin, to return the brand to sports car racing. [12] The team enjoyed continued success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the Aston Martin DBR9 finishing 1st in class in 2007 and 2008, the Aston Martin Vantage GTE finishing 1st in class in 2014 and 2017, and the Aston Martin Vantage GTE finishing 1st in class in 2020. Despite Aston Martin Racing ending its race programme in 2020, Prodrive continues to build and maintain a variety of Aston Martin cars available to customer teams – over 500 have been built. [12]

Rallying

Subaru Impreza WRC in 2001 Ss1 5rb.jpg
Subaru Impreza WRC in 2001

Prodrive ran the Subaru World Rally Team between 1989 and 2008, competing at the top of the World Rally Championship for over a decade. [13] [12] Subaru won the manufacturers' championship three times in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and the drivers' championship three times, in 1995, 2001, and 2003. Its Impreza WRC model won a record 46 rallies. [14] Subaru withdrew from WRC competition at the end of the 2008 season due to the 2008 financial crisis. [15]

In 2010, Mini announced plans to enter the World Rally Championship, with a Countryman WRC designed, built and ran by Prodrive. [16] The team competed in a reduced programme during the 2011 season, before BMW cut funding and withdrawing at the end of 2012. [17] [11]

Touring cars

Ford Mondeo Super Touring during the 2000 BTCC season BTCC 2000 Ford.jpg
Ford Mondeo Super Touring during the 2000 BTCC season

Prodrive developed and ran touring cars for several different manufacturers, including for BMW, Alfa Romeo, Honda and Ford in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in the 1990s and early 2000s. [1] Prodrive won the 1988, 1991 and 1992 BTCC seasons with BMW and the 2000 BTCC season with Ford. [2] [11]

Prodrive also ran Ford's in the V8 Supercars category in Australia, having purchased Glenn Seton Racing in 2002. [1] The team was sold in 2013. [18]

Rally Raid

Between 2020 and 2023, Prodrive developed the Prodrive BRX Hunter rally raid car, running the car using the Bahrain Raid Xtreme team – a joint venture with Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat Holding Company. [12] The team's best result at the Dakar Rally was 2nd overall in both 2022 and 2023. [19] [20]

Facilities

Proving ground in Warwickshire Vehicle Proving ground entrance - geograph.org.uk - 43564.jpg
Proving ground in Warwickshire

Prodrive had a facility at the former RAF Honiley airfield and LucasVarity proving ground near Wroxall, Warwickshire, together with Marcos and TRW. [21]

In March 2006, Prodrive announced its intent to build a £200million, 200-acre (0.8 km2) motorsport facility called "The Fulcrum". [22] [23]

As of 3 August 2006, Prodrive has won the support of the Warwick District Council planning committee for development of The Fulcrum. [24] The permission covers a highly advanced engineering research and development campus, a conference facility called the Catalyst Centre and new access road, a roundabout, infrastructure, parking and landscaping. The plans still have to be presented and agreed by the British government's Department for Communities and Local Government. There is local opposition against Prodrive's plans via the Fulcrum Prodrive Action Group (FPAG) to protect the rural nature of the community and the safety of the people that live within it. [21]

In 2014 the site was sold to Jaguar Land Rover.[ citation needed ]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Since 1984. Discover Prodrive Heritage - Prodrive". Prodrive. 9 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Ward, Seán (23 February 2022). "Prodrive's 7 best race and rally cars". www.goodwood.com. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  3. Meaden, Richard (26 May 2022). "My Life & Cars – David Richards, Chairman, Prodrive". evo. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  4. "2008 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List". Archived from the original on 22 June 2007.
  5. "F1-Live - Prodrive no-go for 2008". Archived from the original on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
  6. "2008 Prodrive Press Release". Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  7. "Richards keen on Formula 1 return". 23 April 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2018 via news.bbc.co.uk.
  8. "Renault considering rival bids for team". Autosport.
  9. "Prodrive rules out entering F1 in 2011". Autosport.
  10. "Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello". ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 Evans, David (5 July 2014). "Prodrive at 30: From the WRC to Mars".
  12. 1 2 3 4 Cropley, Steve (10 August 2024). "40 years of Prodrive: tracing the story of motorsport success". Autocar . Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  13. "Subaru Manufacturer Profile & Rally History". Rallye-Info.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  14. "Top 10 Greatest World Rally Championship Cars of All Time". SnapLap. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  15. "Subaru to withdraw from World Rally Championship". Swrt.com. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  16. "MINI confirms WRC entry from 2011". AUSmotive.com.
  17. "MINI ceases works involvement in the WRC". www.press.bmwgroup.com. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  18. Fogarty, Mark (4 January 2013). "V8 team FPR sold to Melbourne-based pair". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  19. Thukral, Rachit; Davoine, Basile (16 January 2022). "Loeb: Second place in Dakar Rally "nothing to be ashamed of"". Autosport. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  20. Brunsdon, Stephen (16 January 2023). "Loeb: Finishing second in 2023 my best Dakar performance". DirtFish. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  21. 1 2 Protest against Formula One plans [ permanent dead link ] kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk - 24 March 2006
  22. New Formula One plans unveiled BBC News - 1 March 2006
  23. Prodrive plans £200m F1 facility Archived 4 March 2006 at the National and University Library of Iceland itv-f1.com - 13 March 2006
  24. Prodrive development approved [ permanent dead link ] kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk - 3 August 2006

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