Prost AP04
Encyclopedia
The Prost AP04 was the car with which the Prix
team competed in the Formula One
season. It was initially driven by the experienced Jean Alesi
, who was in his second year with the team, and Gastón Mazzacane
, who brought valuable PSN sponsorship from Minardi
.
For Prost, 2001 was a season of struggle as Alain Prost
struggled to keep the team going. Initially, things looked quite promising after the catastrophic season, with the Diniz
family becoming shareholders and bringing Parmalat
sponsorship to the team. The AP04 also used a Ferrari
engine and transmission, although the former was badged as an Acer in deference to the team's title sponsor. Prost was also one of several teams to opt for the new Michelin
tyres on the French
company's return to the sport. Alesi set fast times in winter testing, and the car appeared to show capable speed.
However, the team were mired in the midfield once the season began, fueling the speculation that the team had run an illegally fast car to attract sponsors. However, the cars were quite reliable, Alesi finishing all 12 races he had with the team. In the process he scored four precious points, but left the team for Jordan
after the German GP to replace the sacked Heinz-Harald Frentzen
. The German
took over Alesi's role as team leader, but could not add to the points tally.
The team's driver problems were even more acute in the #23 car. Mazzacane was dropped after four races in favour of fellow-South America
n Luciano Burti
, who had himself been dropped by Jaguar
. Burti was quicker but also got involved in two enormous accidents which wrote off two chassis. The latter, at the Belgian GP put him out for the rest of the season. His replacement, Tomáš Enge
, performed competently, but destroyed another car at the Japanese GP
.
By the end of the season, however, the focus was firmly on Prost's impending collapse. Prost had fallen out with Diniz and his father, and the team was running out of money. Various deals to buy the team came to nought, and Prost did not survive into . The cars and other assets were bought by Phoenix Finance
, which attempted to enter a team for 2002 and , but were barred from doing so by the FIA
, as they had not bought Prost's entry or paid the mandatory bond for new teams.
The team eventually finished ninth in the Constructors' Championship, with four points.
Prost Grand Prix
Prost Grand Prix was a Formula One racing team managed by former world champion Alain Prost. The team participated in five seasons from 1997 to 2001.-Purchase of Ligier:...
team competed in the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
season. It was initially driven by the experienced Jean Alesi
Jean Alesi
Jean Alesi is a French racing driver of Italian origin. His Formula One career included spells at Tyrrell, Benetton, Sauber, Prost, Jordan and most notably Ferrari where he proved very popular among the tifosi...
, who was in his second year with the team, and Gastón Mazzacane
Gastón Mazzacane
Gastón Hugo Mazzacane is a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in 21 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 12, 2000. He scored no championship points....
, who brought valuable PSN sponsorship from Minardi
Minardi
Minardi was an automobile racing team and constructor founded in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans...
.
For Prost, 2001 was a season of struggle as Alain Prost
Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur is a French racing driver. A four-time Formula One Drivers' Champion, Prost has won more titles than any driver except for Juan Manuel Fangio , and Michael Schumacher . From 1987 until 2001 Prost held the record for most Grand Prix...
struggled to keep the team going. Initially, things looked quite promising after the catastrophic season, with the Diniz
Pedro Diniz
Pedro Paulo Diniz is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 99 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 26, 1995...
family becoming shareholders and bringing Parmalat
Parmalat
Parmalat SpA is a multinational Italian dairy and food corporation. Having become the leading global company in the production of ultra high temperature milk, the company collapsed in 2003 with a €14 billion hole in its accounts in what remains Europe's biggest bankruptcy...
sponsorship to the team. The AP04 also used a Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
engine and transmission, although the former was badged as an Acer in deference to the team's title sponsor. Prost was also one of several teams to opt for the new Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
tyres on the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
company's return to the sport. Alesi set fast times in winter testing, and the car appeared to show capable speed.
However, the team were mired in the midfield once the season began, fueling the speculation that the team had run an illegally fast car to attract sponsors. However, the cars were quite reliable, Alesi finishing all 12 races he had with the team. In the process he scored four precious points, but left the team for Jordan
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
after the German GP to replace the sacked Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Heinz-Harald Frentzen is a German racing driver most famous for his career in Formula One. At various times driving for Williams, Jordan, Sauber, Prost, and Arrows, he achieved three race wins before his retirement from F1 in 2003.-Early career:He was born in the West German city of...
. The German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
took over Alesi's role as team leader, but could not add to the points tally.
The team's driver problems were even more acute in the #23 car. Mazzacane was dropped after four races in favour of fellow-South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n Luciano Burti
Luciano Burti
Luciano Pucci Burti is a Brazilian racing driver who briefly raced in Formula One.-Career:His early career saw him graduate through the usual channels and he found himself in British Formula 3 driving for the crack Stewart Racing team...
, who had himself been dropped by Jaguar
Jaguar Racing
Jaguar Racing was a Formula One team that competed in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2000 to 2004. It was formed from the purchase by Ford of Jackie Stewart's Stewart Grand Prix Formula One team in June 1999. Ford renamed the team Jaguar Racing as part of its global marketing...
. Burti was quicker but also got involved in two enormous accidents which wrote off two chassis. The latter, at the Belgian GP put him out for the rest of the season. His replacement, Tomáš Enge
Tomáš Enge
Tomáš Enge is a motor racing driver from the Czech Republic, who has competed in many classes of motorsport, including three races in Formula One.-Career:...
, performed competently, but destroyed another car at the Japanese GP
2001 Japanese Grand Prix
The 2001 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 14, 2001 at the Suzuka Circuit. The race was won by Michael Schumacher who started from pole position....
.
By the end of the season, however, the focus was firmly on Prost's impending collapse. Prost had fallen out with Diniz and his father, and the team was running out of money. Various deals to buy the team came to nought, and Prost did not survive into . The cars and other assets were bought by Phoenix Finance
Phoenix Finance
Phoenix Finance was a British banking company which attempted to enter the 2002 and 2003 Formula One seasons. Charles Nickerson was Managing Director of the company.- Takeover from Prost :...
, which attempted to enter a team for 2002 and , but were barred from doing so by the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
, as they had not bought Prost's entry or paid the mandatory bond for new teams.
The team eventually finished ninth in the Constructors' Championship, with four points.
Complete Formula One results
(results in bold indicate pole position)| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prost Prost Grand Prix Prost Grand Prix was a Formula One racing team managed by former world champion Alain Prost. The team participated in five seasons from 1997 to 2001.-Purchase of Ligier:... |
Acer V10 V10 engine A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion... |
AUS 2001 Australian Grand Prix The 2001 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 4 March 2001 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. It was the 66th running of the Australian Grand Prix and the first race of the 2001 Formula One season... |
MAL 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix The 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at theSepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia on March 18, 2001. The race, contested over 55 laps, was won by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher... |
BRA 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix The 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at the Interlagos Circuit on April 1, 2001.This exciting Grand Prix had three notable incidents, two of them being overtaking moves, both on Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, and both taking place at the "Senna S" corner of the track.The... |
SMR | ESP | AUT | MON 2001 Monaco Grand Prix The 2001 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monaco on May 27, 2001.- Classification :- Notes :*David Coulthard started this race at the back of the grid, having stalled on pole.*This race gave the Jaguar team their first podium finish.... |
CAN 2001 Canadian Grand Prix The 2001 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 10, 2001. It was the 8th round of the 2001 Formula One season.-Race:... |
EUR 2001 European Grand Prix The 2001 European Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Nürburgring on June 24, 2001.After an exciting qualifying session, it was Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari who grabbed pole position from brother Ralf Schumacher and Juan-Pablo Montoya in the Williams-BMWs. This proved to be an... |
FRA 2001 French Grand Prix The 2001 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Magny-Cours on July 1, 2001.- Classification :- Notes :*Lap leaders: Ralf Schumacher 23 , Michael Schumacher 39 , David Coulthard 1 , Juan Pablo Montoya 9 *Fastest Lap: David Coulthard 1m 16.088s*Pole Position: Ralf Schumacher 1m... |
GBR 2001 British Grand Prix The 2001 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on July 15, 2001 at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, England. It was the eleventh race of the 2001 Formula One season... |
GER | HUN 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix The 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Hungaroring on August 19, 2001. This race saw Michael Schumacher win his fourth World Championship and equal Alain Prost's record of 51 Grand Prix victories.- Classification :- Notes :... |
BEL | ITA 2001 Italian Grand Prix The 2001 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monza on September 16, 2001.This was the first F1 race held after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. As a mark of respect, several teams altered their cars' liveries. The Ferraris ran without any sponsorship livery and... |
USA 2001 United States Grand Prix The 2001 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on September 30, 2001 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. This was the first international sport/race event held in USA after the September 11, 2001 attacks.__FORCETOC__... |
JPN 2001 Japanese Grand Prix The 2001 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 14, 2001 at the Suzuka Circuit. The race was won by Michael Schumacher who started from pole position.... |
4 | 9th | |||
| Jean Alesi Jean Alesi Jean Alesi is a French racing driver of Italian origin. His Formula One career included spells at Tyrrell, Benetton, Sauber, Prost, Jordan and most notably Ferrari where he proved very popular among the tifosi... |
9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Heinz-Harald Frentzen Heinz-Harald Frentzen Heinz-Harald Frentzen is a German racing driver most famous for his career in Formula One. At various times driving for Williams, Jordan, Sauber, Prost, and Arrows, he achieved three race wins before his retirement from F1 in 2003.-Early career:He was born in the West German city of... |
Ret | 9 | Ret | 10 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gastón Mazzacane Gastón Mazzacane Gastón Hugo Mazzacane is a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in 21 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 12, 2000. He scored no championship points.... |
Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | |||||||||||||||||||
| Luciano Burti Luciano Burti Luciano Pucci Burti is a Brazilian racing driver who briefly raced in Formula One.-Career:His early career saw him graduate through the usual channels and he found himself in British Formula 3 driving for the crack Stewart Racing team... |
11 | 11 | Ret | 8 | 12 | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | |||||||||||||
| Tomáš Enge Tomáš Enge Tomáš Enge is a motor racing driver from the Czech Republic, who has competed in many classes of motorsport, including three races in Formula One.-Career:... |
12 | 14 | Ret |