David Richards, the former World Rally Championship-winning co-driver and founder of Prodrive, has witnessed the Middle East's transformation from hosting modest desert rallies to staging some of the world's biggest motorsport events. Speaking exclusively to Arab News as Prodrive marks its 50th anniversary, Richards reflected on his first visit to the Gulf half a century ago and the region's remarkable journey.
Early Beginnings in the Gulf
Richards' connection with the region dates back to the mid-1970s, when he organized the inaugural Kuwait Rally. 'I suppose we start 50 years ago, when I got an invitation from Rothmans, the sponsors of the first Kuwait Rally, to go out to Kuwait and organize the rally for them,' Richards recalled. With only a few weeks' notice, he traveled to Kuwait to help organize the event. Its success led to further invitations across the Gulf, taking him to Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman.
'I spent quite a lot of time out in the Middle East in those early days,' he said. 'I look back now, and I was a very young guy in my early 20s, organizing rallies in a very different world from what it is in the Middle East today.'
Prodrive's Regional Ties
After winning the World Rally Championship as a co-driver in 1981, Richards founded Prodrive in 1984. The Middle East remained an important part of the company's story, with relationships formed during those early years contributing to manufacturer programs and technical partnerships. Among Prodrive's earliest driver signings was Qatari rally star Saeed Al-Hajri, who would become one of the Middle East's most successful competitors. 'He went on to win the Middle East Championship on a number of occasions,' Richards said. 'We had a very successful relationship.'
The friendship has endured long after their competitive years together. 'Strangely enough, he just sent me a text this morning discussing Qatar's chances in the World Cup football,' Richards said.
Remarkable Transformation
Looking back, Richards believes few could have imagined how dramatically motorsport would develop in the Middle East. 'Who could have imagined those days when we were driving cars in the desert with very few facilities and really pioneering, early days?' he said. 'Now you look at the circuits you have in Bahrain, Saudi, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, and it's quite a different place.'
Saudi Arabia's emergence as a major international motorsport destination has particularly impressed Richards, especially through its hosting of the Dakar Rally. 'I think the Dakar Rally is probably the most challenging motorsport event in the world,' he said. 'The terrain in Saudi provides that challenge. It's an incredible environment where you have wonderful landscapes, open deserts, the Empty Quarter, and the unbelievable backdrop of AlUla.'
Infrastructure and Local Talent
Richards praised the reception competitors receive throughout the Kingdom. 'The welcome that the rally receives is incredible,' he said. 'Everywhere we go, everyone welcomes us to Saudi and enjoys the presence of all the teams there.' He also believes the Gulf's sustained investment in motorsport infrastructure is beginning to produce a new generation of local competitors. 'It doesn't happen overnight, but we're already seeing some very good drivers come through,' he said.
Tracing the region's rallying history, he highlighted pioneers including Al-Hajri, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and multiple Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah, while also pointing to emerging Saudi talent. 'It's a slow process to build up local talent,' he said. 'This happens slowly over a period of time, and it's great to see it happening.'
Foundations and Future
For Richards, the memories that stand out most are not the modern facilities but the sport's earliest beginnings. 'There were no maps, there was no infrastructure,' he recalled. 'We were organizing things with people we met and enthusiasts.' He credits the volunteers, local authorities, and early commercial partners with helping establish the foundations of motorsport across the Gulf. 'You have to look back and thank the people who were there at the beginning and believed in it,' he said.
Today's Gulf circuits rank among the world's finest. 'If you look across the Gulf region and Saudi, you have some of the best tracks in the world now, and some of the best-attended events in the world,' Richards said. Prodrive continues to focus on the future, working with British engineering firm JCB on a hydrogen-powered world land speed record project. 'We're working with hydrogen now as a new technology,' Richards said. 'We see that as a very interesting possibility for the future.' Prodrive also expects to return to the Dakar Rally next year with a new project, while exploring further opportunities following Saudi Arabia's addition to the World Rally Championship calendar.
'There's a lot going on at the moment,' he said. 'It never stands still.' For someone whose Middle East journey began with a hastily arranged trip to Kuwait half a century ago, Richards believes the region's motorsport story is still unfolding. 'You have to start with small beginnings,' he said. 'The result is what you have today.'
