David Richards CBE

David Richards CBE is Chair of Motorsport UK, a role he assumed in January 2018.

David led the transformation of the organisation from the Motor Sports Association (MSA) to Motorsport UK, ensuring stronger emphasis on the promotion and the development of the sport for future generations.

Internationally, David represents the UK on the FIA World Motorsport Council and is a Trustee of the FIA Foundation international charity.

After studying accountancy, David spent eight years as a professional rally co-driver becoming British and Scandinavian champion and concluded his competition career by winning the World Rally Championship as the co-driver to Ari Vatanen in 1981.

Following this title, David devoted his time to developing his business interests, which led to the formation of his own motor racing team and the creation of Prodrive in 1983. The company established its headquarters in Banbury, Oxfordshire, where, under David’s direction, it has grown into a world leading motorsport and advanced technology business employing over 400 staff with annual sales in excess of £75m.

Since 1983, Prodrive has won six FIA World Rally titles; six Le Mans titles; four British Touring Car titles and eleven FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) titles. In 2004, with David as Team Principal, the BAR Honda F1 team finished runners-up in the Formula One Constructors’ Championship.

In the 2005 Queen’s New Year’s honours, he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to motorsport and has honorary doctorates and fellowships from the Universities of Wales, Coventry, Warwick, Cranfield, and Wrexham. In 2017 he was inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame and presented with the Spirt of Le Mans award by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). In 2019 Autocar presented him with their Outstanding Leader Award and in May 2022 the Sturmey Award for leadership in elevating and reshaping UK motorsport for the future. In December 2022, the Guild of Motoring Writers’ presented David with their highly coveted presidents’ trophy for his achievements in international automobilism. In the same month, he received the President’s award from the BRDC for his outstanding contribution as Head of Trustees for the Motor Sport Charity.

Furthermore, David sits on the advisory board of Cranfield School of Management, is vice president of the automotive industry charity BEN and a patron of the schools’ initiative Greenpower. He is also a non-executive director of BGC Partners Inc. (an American listed company) and later in 2023 will take on the role of Chairman of the FIA Foundation.