Prodrive close to buying Aston Martin

Ford is in exclusive talks with motor racing company Prodrive over the potential £450 million sale of its luxury car marque, Aston Martin. Sources said that Ford had selected Prodrive despite its trouble financing a bid, as revealed last week, because the racing group had offered a higher price than other shortlisted bidders. Prodrive runs Aston Martin’s racing team, although it is not owned by Ford or affiliated to it. Next year, it is due to enter Formula One with its own team. Prodrive founder David Richards is understood to be working with investors from the United States and the Middle East to fund the deal, which could be formally announced this week.