In the world of racing, deals and agreements can be as fleeting as the checkered flag, and sometimes, a simple twist of fate can change the course of a driver's career. This is the story of Steven Richards, a veteran of the Supercars scene, and his near-miss with Stone Brothers Racing (SBR).
Richards, a seasoned competitor, had a deal in place to replace the legendary Marcos Ambrose at SBR for the 2006 season. This would have been a significant step up for Richards, who had previously enjoyed success with Perkins Engineering and Gibson Motorsport. However, as he recalls, the deal was not to be.
The turning point came when Richards was informed that his sponsor, Castrol, was no longer continuing their partnership with Perkins Engineering. This left Richards in a difficult position, as he had already made plans for the future. As he explains, "Midway through 2005 at LP’s, Larry [ Perkins] came to me and said, ‘mate, you need to have a look at what your options are for 2006 because I’ve just been told from Castrol that they’re not going to be (continuing). And if we don’t have a sponsor, I can’t afford to keep the team running.’"
Richards, ever the professional, began exploring other options, and he had indeed secured a deal with SBR. However, as he discovered later, Perkins had found a new sponsor, and the deal was off. Richards reflects, "Somewhere later in that year, Larry has come to me and gone ‘I’ve got a sponsor’. I said ‘Larry, I’ve got a deal, it’s done, it’s agreed, contract, it’s all here’. And he goes ‘Richo, it’s a guaranteed deal, you can’t take it’."
This situation highlights the delicate balance between drivers and teams in the racing world. Richards, despite his best efforts, was unable to secure a seat at SBR, and instead, James Courtney was signed to join Russell Ingall. Richards, ever the realist, acknowledges, "I would have loved to have driven with Stone Brothers. Larry’s was great, I was so hands-on there during that period, but I always thought to drive with Ross and Jimmy would have been pretty cool."
This story raises a deeper question about the fragility of deals and agreements in the racing world. It also underscores the importance of having a solid backup plan. Richards, despite the setback, went on to have a successful career, driving for Ford Performance Racing in 2007. This near-miss serves as a reminder that in the world of racing, as in life, sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and it’s the ability to adapt and persevere that ultimately defines a driver’s success.
