Formula One: Richards takes over at BAR

David Richards has been officially confirmed as the new head of the British American Racing Formula One team.

Richards was unveiled at the launch of the BAR-Honda 004 at the team's headquarters at Brackley in Northamptonshire.

He replaces Craig Pollock who has stepped down as managing director of the team he founded in 1998.

Pollock's departure to pursue other interests is understood to have come following pressure from British American Tobacco, who are disappointed that their investment of over £150m has so far yielded disappointing results.

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve scored two third places last season but the team still finished sixth in the constructors' championship behind fellow Honda-powered team Jordan.

The departure of Pollock, who managed Villeneuve before setting up BAR, has inevitably led to speculation about the Canadian driver's future amid reports that Renault - formerly Benetton - would be interested in his services.

Richards, who was in charge at Benetton in 1998, had been expected to concentrate his efforts on his planned revolution in coverage of the World Rally Championship, having bought the rights from Bernie Ecclestone two years ago.

But Richards, whose Subaru team used to be backed by 555 - another BAT brand - is well known to the cigarette giant.

Richards said: "There was unfinished business for me. I always said I would look very carefully before going back and would only return if all the ingredients were in place.

"These things are not spontaneous and I have been in discussion with BAR for some time now and it is only in the last 10 days that all the circumstances have come together."

Richards insisted his return to F1 would not affect his plans to revolutionise the World Rally Championship.

"This (F1) is going to take my principal effort in the short to mid-term," he said, "but for World Rally Championship I have put together a very good team that will deliver on what we have committed to do."