DAVID RICHARDS

CHAIRMAN OF MOTOR SPORT UK, CHAIRMAN OF PRO DRIVE

The head of Motorsport UK is always going to appear highly on a list like this, but since joining the organisation in January 2018, David Richards has been a bull in a china shop, for the greater good.

The sport’s governing body needed a shake-up, and the Prodrive boss has proven the man for the job by initiating conversations inside the walls of Colnbrook about how decisions are made, how it needs to become more flexible and the fact that it now needs to promote the sport as well as regulate it.

He’s even had an effect on the outside of the walls, changing the company name and logo to signal a fresh start.

In terms of actual change, fixing the rally seeding order so that less-powerful and historic cars can run in a preferable position, and extending the life of certain seats and belts has made for a popular opening salvo in the role.

The fact is, aside from Motorsport UK, Richards has already left a lasting mark on motorsport with his Prodrive concern with the successful Mcrae and Burns Subaru eras. He also left a mark as co-driver for one of the most popular drivers in the history of rallying with Ari Vatanen, the pair taking the 1981 WRC title, as well as partnering what reads like a who’s who of rallying through his career.

Back with Motorsport UK and Richards faces a struggle to bring the organisation out of the metaphorical dark ages and into the light. But if Prodrive is anything to go by – pioneering technology in composites and electronics – things will be sorted in a jiffy. Next step? Paris, to succeed Mr Todt.