DECEMBER 27, 2001
What did Richards pay for BAR?
The big question being discussed in Formula 1 circles at the moment is how much Prodrive will have agreed to pay to buy out the partners in British American Racing.
Richards is believed to have bought out the various non-BAT partners in BAR. He has not admitted as much but made an oblique reference to the situation recently when he said that Prodrive "will be looking for another partner in six years time when the tobacco ban comes into operation". The implication is that Prodrive is in partnership with BAT in the team although this has not actually been announced.
Buying out Adrian Reynard and Rick Gorne would not have been that difficult but reaching a deal with Mount Eagle Inc. was probably more difficult because of the partners in that business. It may be that some of those shares are still owned by others but that an agreement has been struck between Prodrive and Gerald Forsythe (the majority shareholder in Mount Eagle) to allow Richards to run the show.