Prodrive denies AMT engine link.

Prodrive boss, and one-time Benetton team chief, David Richards has denied that his company has any involvement with the prospective purchasers of Peugeot's F1 engine project.

The Banbury-based operation, which runs the Subaru works rally and Ford works BTCC teams, was rumoured to have helped broker the deal which will transfer Peugeot's F1 technology to Japanese company Asian Motor Techniques [AMT}, but Richards is adamant that, while he was aware of the deal, he had nothing at all to do with it.

Peugeot, too, is reluctant to admit that a deal has been struck with AMT, and is scheduled to reveal its F1 future at the French GP next month. The paddock grapevine insists, however, that the company will continue to build engines on behalf of its new Oriental owners, and that Minardi - and possibly Sauber - will be the recipients in 2001. The operation will run on a similar basis to that organised by Renault and Supertec.

The option of current Peugeot customer Prost using AMT units also remains a possibility, despite the falling out between the two French concerns. Team boss Alain Prost had hoped to land a supply of customer Mercedes engines, but was turned down at the Nurburgring by Norbert Haug, and now looks set to have to choose between becoming a second Renault/Supertec customer alongside Arrows or reverting to AMT-badged Peugeots. Renault has recently acknowledged that it could supply three teams in 2001, despite taking on a works role with Benetton.

Prodrive, meanwhile, refuses to rule out an F1 participation in the future, but admits that it is only a part of a 'long-term plan'.