[1][better source needed] In 1987 Prodrive entered into what was to become a long-standing partnership with BMW in the British Touring Car Championship.

Richards also brought Jenson Button to the team and made him lead driver, providing the majority of their championship points in 2004.

[7] On 16 September 2007 Richards and his wife, Karen, survived a forced landing in their helicopter in Essex whilst returning from the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix, less than 24 hours after his former WRC driver, Colin McRae, perished in a similar accident along with his son and two others.

[10] In 2017, he was inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame and received the Spirit of Le Mans award from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO).

[citation needed] Cranfield School of Management awarded Richards an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in 2008.