22/04/2005
NEWS STORY
It has been revealed that former BAR team principal, David Richards, has donated £50,000 ($95,000) to the Labour Party as it prepares for the general election in Britain.
It's understood that Richards' donation is the biggest cash gift the political party has received during its election campaign thus far.
In late 2004, following its most successful season, BAR, which was mostly owned by the tobacco giant British American Tobacco, sensationally dropped Richards, who consequently concentrated on his own hugely successful business, Prodrive.
Richards' donation is sure to revive memories of Bernie Ecclestone's £1m donation to the Labour Party shortly after it came to power, and which had to be handed back following accusations that the F1 supremo gave the money in an attempt to persuade Tony Blair and his colleagues to look favourably on F1 with regards the issue of tobacco sponsorship.
Richards, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Bernie Ecclestone, was awarded a CBE in the New Year honours list.