Prost AP04

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Prost AP04

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Prost
Designer	Henri Durand
Chassis	Carbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	torsion bars, dampers
Suspension (rear)	torsion bars, dampers
Engine	Acer-badged Ferrari V10 (90°) naturally aspirated
Transmission	Ferrari 7-speed titanium and carbon longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Fuel	Shell
Tyres	Michelin
Notable entrants	Prost Acer
Notable drivers	22. Jean Alesi & Heinz-Harald Frentzen 23. Gastón Mazzacane, Luciano Burti & Tomáš Enge
Debut	2001 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	17
Race victories	0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0

The Prost AP04 was the car with which the Prix team competed in the 2001 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 2000 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 American Luciano Burti, who had himself been dropped by Jaguar. Burti was quicker but also got involved in two enormous accidents which wrote of 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 2002. The cars and other assets were bought by Phoenix Finance, which attempted to enter a team for 2002 and 2003, 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 Contructors' Championship, with four points.

[edit] Complete Formula One Results

(key) (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
2001	Prost	Acer V10	M		AUS	MYS	BRA	SMR	ESP	AUT	MON	CAN	EUR	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	USA	JPN	4	9th
				Jean Alesi	9	9	8	9	10	10	6	5	15	12	11	6
				Heinz-Harald Frentzen													Ret	9	Ret	10	12
				Gastón Mazzacane	Ret	12	Ret	Ret
				Luciano Burti					11	11	Ret	8	12	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNS	Inj	Inj	Inj
				Tomáš Enge															12	14	Ret

[edit] References

Prost Grand Prix

Notable Personnel: Alain Prost Notable Drivers: Olivier Panis | Jarno Trulli Formula One cars: JS45 | AP01 | AP02 | AP03 | AP04

Cars which competed in the 2001 Formula One season
Ferrari F2001 | McLaren MP4-16 | Williams FW23 | Sauber C20 | Jordan EJ11 | BAR 003 | Benetton B201 | Jaguar R2 | Prost AP04 | Arrows A22 | Minardi PS01