Cosworth look to Toro Rosso, Prodrive
With current partner Williams likely to race into Toyota's clutches in 2007, the Northampton-based company is hoping to equip Red Bull's controversial junior team – Toro Rosso – with a V8 power plant next year.
According to 'Auto Motor Und Sport', former Benetton and BAR boss David Richards is also in Cosworth's sights. With his 'Prodrive' team certain to get the FIA's nod for 2008 on Friday, the German magazine suggested that a 'long term' engine contract with Cosworth is possible.
But Cosworth has not yet given up on retaining Sir Frank Williams' business, with Tim Routsis saying earlier that his job is to make it 'bloody hard for them to want to go' elsewhere.
04/27/06 Speaking to autosport.com, Cosworth's commercial director Bernard Ferguson said he was looking beyond just Williams for next year to supply – and said there was likely to be a major push in the next few weeks to try and conclude preliminary negotiations that have taken place.
"Ideally we would like to have two competitive teams, but then again wouldn't everybody," said Ferguson. " I think basically what we are trying to do is do the best possible job we can do for Williams. That is to make a decision to go anywhere else very difficult for them, but also by doing that it gives us a shop window for the rest of the grid.
"There is a very small market place and everyone can see what everyone else is doing, and I think that we are getting a lot of good press in real terms and in terms of perception from the rest of the teams.
"We are exploring conversations with other people that have not advanced that far at this stage for next year, but I think that will pick up quite quickly now we are into Europe.
"These guys (Williams) have already started conversations about the engine installation in the chassis, and everybody else is doing the same. I would think by some time in June all the deals that are going to be done, with everyone and not just Cosworth, will be pretty much signed and sealed."