It's from Autosport's website (pay site). Might not happen in 2005 but it looks as though Honda will be a major player in WTCC (formerly ETCC).

Relationship between David Richards and Honda could continue outside F1

JAS Honda Accords ran in ETCC 2004

Honda and Prodrive could link up for a new programme in the World Touring Car Championship, in the wake of the early end to the British company's management contract with BAR.

In an exclusive interview with Autosport last week, Prodrive boss David Richards alluded to a new tie-up with the Japanese manufacturer after its buy-in at BAR led to the end of the management deal with two years left to run.

Prodrive is no stranger to Honda touring cars having run factory Accords in the British Touring Car Championship in the late ‘90s.

Richards told Autosport: “It's quite likely that we will be doing something with Honda again next year. I think that is almost certainly the case.”

Richards would give no more details, but a touring car deal would be the most obvious way for the relationship to continue and he is known to have made a presentation of a WTCC programme to senior Honda personnel within the past month.

It's quite likely that we will be doing something with Honda again next year
David Richards
It's not clear whether a Prodrive-built WTCC car could be readied in time for the 2005 season, but an alternative is for a development programme to be run in 2005, ready for a full WTCC assault in 2006.

Italian team JAS Motorsport already has plans to enter Honda Accords in the 2005 WTCC. JAS has long links with Honda's European arm, but there has been no confirmation of factory support for the JAS programme.

JAS boss Alessandro Mariani commented: “It could happen for us [factory backing], but we can't wait for a decision. We have started work for next year already.”