99 Prost AP02 - Motorsports Almanac
99 Prost AP02 - Motorsports Almanac
99 Prost AP02 - Motorsports Almanac
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The <strong>Prost</strong> <strong>AP02</strong>-Peugeot<br />
<strong>Prost</strong> <strong>AP02</strong> FIA Formula 1 car<br />
Technical Specifications (1<strong>99</strong>9)<br />
Four-times F1 world champion Alain<br />
<strong>Prost</strong> unveiled his new car in France, last<br />
Monday - and warned McLaren and<br />
Ferrari they had better watch out for his<br />
team. At <strong>Prost</strong>'s headquarters at St<br />
Quentin-en-Yvelines; in the south-west<br />
surburbs of Paris, Alain <strong>Prost</strong> was<br />
optimistic his team could not only<br />
improve on the disappointments of last<br />
season but also make large strides forward.<br />
<strong>Prost</strong> fires F1 warning shot : "It is always<br />
difficult to say exactly what a team's<br />
objectives are and I don't want to be too<br />
specific," said Alain <strong>Prost</strong> as he showed<br />
off his Peugeot-powered <strong>AP02</strong>, the<br />
second car from the team since he took<br />
over. "But if we have Ferrari and<br />
McLaren within reach, that will be<br />
reasonably good." The new Peugeot A18<br />
engine in the <strong>AP02</strong> is a development of<br />
the A16 engine which raced in ‘98. Still a<br />
72-degree V10, but it is lighter, with a<br />
gain of 6 kg at a weight of 119 kg.<br />
DESIGN TEAM<br />
Technical Director : Bernard Dudot (Alan Jenkins replaced Dudot from June, 1<strong>99</strong>9)<br />
Chief Designer : Loic Bigois<br />
Aerodynamicist : Ben Wood<br />
Engine : Jean-Pierre Boudy of Peugeot Sport, Velizy, France.<br />
Consultant : John Barnard of B3 Technologies, Guildford, UK. (Mainly suspension design)<br />
PRODUCTION<br />
Numbers built : 7 cars (01/02/03/04/05/06/07)<br />
Manufacturer : <strong>Prost</strong> GP, Quartier des Sangliers, 7 avenue Eugène Freyssinet, F-78220 Guyancourt, France.<br />
CHASSIS<br />
Type : Carbonfibre Monocoque, with four carbonfibre bulkheads of which two bulkheads are<br />
bonded in during assembly. (Designed and built by <strong>Prost</strong> Grand Prix.)<br />
ENGINE<br />
Model : Peugeot Sport A18<br />
Evolutions : EV2 (AUS), EV4 (RSM-Q), EV4 (GB), EV5 (FRA-Q), EV7 (EUR-Q), EV5 (MAL)<br />
Type : 72° V10, gear-driven DOHC, 4VPC with pneumatic valve return.<br />
Capacity : 2<strong>99</strong>8 cm<br />
Bore x Stroke : 93.00 x 44.14 mm (estimation)<br />
Max Power : 760 PS @ 16500 rpm (775 PS @ 16800 rpm for qualifying) (estimations)<br />
Compression Ratio : 13.2:1 (estimation)<br />
Management : TAG Electronic System 2000. Fixed induction trumpets.<br />
Materials : Light alloy block and cylinder heads.<br />
Lubrication : Dry-sump, 8-litre oil tank located between the engine and the chassis.<br />
Cooling System : Asymmetrical. Separate Secan water radiators in each side pod.<br />
Fuel and lubricants : Total<br />
Dimensions : 620 mm; width: 512 mm; height: 393 mm<br />
Weight : 119 kg<br />
TRANSMISSION<br />
Gearbox : 6-speed <strong>Prost</strong> GP/Xtrac, longitudinal, semi-automatic shift, magnesium casing.<br />
Clutch : AP Racing Multi-disc.<br />
SUSPENSION<br />
Front and rear : Double wishbone and carbon composite pushrod actuated 2+1 Dynamic Suspensions<br />
dampers. Torsion bars.<br />
BRAKES<br />
Front and rear : Carbone industries carbon fibre discs. Brembo monobloc calipers and <strong>Prost</strong> Grand Prix<br />
master cylinders.<br />
WHEELS<br />
Front and rear : BBS 12.0 x 13”<br />
Rear : BBS 13.7 x 13”
TYRES<br />
Front and rear : Bridgestone Potenza 265/55R-13<br />
Rear : Bridgestone Potenza 325/45R-13<br />
DIMENSIONS<br />
Length : 4680 mm<br />
Wheelbase : 3242 mm (estimation)<br />
Front track : 1490 mm (estimation)<br />
Rear track : 1405 mm (estimation)<br />
Fuel Cell : 125 litre ATL rubber tank<br />
THE <strong>AP02</strong> LAUNCH – PROST FIRES F1 WARNING SHOT 29/01/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
French F1 driver Olivier Panis said he drove throughout last year's season with the fear that one mistake could end his<br />
career. <strong>Prost</strong> Peugeot driver, speaking at the launch of the team's new car, broke both legs in a crash, back at the<br />
Canadian GP in 1<strong>99</strong>7. He needed knee-to-ankle plates inserted in each leg and was told by doctors that if he crashed last<br />
season it could end his career. Olivier has now had the plates removed and feels confident of his ability again. "Now I<br />
feel it is much better," said the 32-year-old, who has won one race : the 1<strong>99</strong>6 Monaco GP. "I've had them taken out and I<br />
feel as if I have my 1<strong>99</strong>7 legs back again on duty. I am 100 per cent fit now. It has lifted a dark cloud that was in my head<br />
all the way through 1<strong>99</strong>8. I never felt totally at ease and they told me it was a risk, that if I had another blow at any time<br />
last season it would end my career." Four-times F1 world champion Alain <strong>Prost</strong> unveiled his new car in France, last<br />
Monday - and warned McLaren and Ferrari they had better watch out for his team. At <strong>Prost</strong>'s headquarters at St<br />
Quentin-en-Yvelines; in the south-west surburbs of Paris, Alain <strong>Prost</strong> was optimistic his team could not only improve<br />
on the disappointments of last season but also make large strides forward. <strong>Prost</strong> fires F1 warning shot : "It is always<br />
difficult to say exactly what a team's objectives are and I don't want to be too specific," said Alain <strong>Prost</strong> as he showed off<br />
his Peugeot-powered <strong>AP02</strong>, the second car from the team since he took over. "But if we have Ferrari and McLaren<br />
within reach, that will be reasonably good." The team struggled last season, scoring just one point, but he has higher<br />
hopes for 1<strong>99</strong>9 when he maintains driver pairing Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli. His optimism is based on a workforce<br />
that has doubled to over 200 and enjoyed a quantum leap in technology. He continued : "We have a terrific team spirit<br />
now. We have made a leap forward with team and car and we all know it. John Barnard believes Alain <strong>Prost</strong> has a<br />
secret weapon in French aerodynamicist and designer Loic Bigois. "Loic looks to me as if he has what it takes to become<br />
one of the best. He's a truly top class aerodynamicist and I think he's up there with all the best of them, whoever you<br />
want to name." Barnard added Bigois had done a superb job in revising the aerodynamics of the <strong>AP02</strong> and he was<br />
backed by Italian driver Jarno Trulli. "I am not saying this just because it is our official team launch, but I am truly<br />
excited by the look of the new car," said Jarno Trulli. John Barnard also revealed he hoped to enjoy a solid long-term<br />
relationship with his old friend Alain <strong>Prost</strong>. "It is a big job and it's my only F1 interest at the moment. I'm hoping it is<br />
going to be a long-term relationship because Alain and I go back a long way. I am pretty optimistic about it because I<br />
like the work we have done and I like the look of the car. Now we have to wait and see." concluded John Barnard.<br />
HOW CAN PROST MAKE HIS TEAM COMPETITIVE? 28/02/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
When Alain <strong>Prost</strong>, before the official launch of the <strong>AP02</strong>, spoke to the press - in front of his whole executive team and<br />
his partners - he began with a question : " After the paradoxical 1<strong>99</strong>8 season - that is a considerable amount of work that<br />
wasn't rewarded by very significants results - how can we make the <strong>Prost</strong> Grand Prix a competitive, stable and longlasting<br />
team ? ". Here was proof that the "Professor" has now been transformed into a captain of industry. In several<br />
phrases, putting emphasis on such words as competition, globalization, strategies, partnerships and return-oninvestment,<br />
the four-time Formula 1 world champion defined the new F1 universe. With no detours, he confirmed his<br />
team's strong determination to achieve great success. And even if a major challenge lies ahead, there is no question of<br />
leaving any room for chance. There's no time to lose : " We have to move fast and create partnerships like the one with<br />
John Barnard of B3 Technologies, to make optimum use of the finest talent that cannot be developed in-house ". At<br />
Peugeot, there is ample support for this strategy : " When it comes to passion and technological innovation, <strong>Prost</strong> GP is<br />
an ideal partner for us ," explains Frédéric Saint-Geours, general manager of Peugeot's Motor Car Division. " We want<br />
to double our sales outside Europe within the next five years. Our involvement in Formula 1 racing is a natural part of<br />
our global strategy, as F1 reaches new markets, such as China ." To meet such challenges, an efficient work space is<br />
clearly a vital requirement, and the new factory at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines near Paris would seem to fit the bill with<br />
its leading-edge technology, expert staff and integrated wind-tunnel. " Aerodynamics is the basic feature of the <strong>AP02</strong><br />
project," insists project manager Loic Bigois. Then, with the same confidence he exuded when smashing lap records,<br />
<strong>Prost</strong> today explained the principles underpinning his ambitions : " Every team that is out to win must have the<br />
resources and use them to advantage; success comes from a variety of organizational details, but also from enthusiasm<br />
and a shared passion. This is the context in which I am making my plans, and in which we have to hold our course from<br />
the first day. This has to be a long-term project ". This logic extends to the <strong>AP02</strong>. According to the <strong>Prost</strong> : "this is not a<br />
revolution, just an evolution ". Yet the transformation is clear when it comes to the motor. " This A18 motor will evolve<br />
two more times during the championship ," says Jean-Pierre Boudy, technical director at Peugeot Sport. " The A20 for<br />
the year 2000 season should be running by May 1<strong>99</strong>9 ." To achieve the anticipated results and to move beyond the<br />
disappointments of the previous year, the new <strong>AP02</strong> must make reliability its chief attribute, according to Bernard<br />
Dudot, technical director of <strong>Prost</strong> GP. " With only 5000 kms of trials, the car has to function as an ensemble and accept<br />
the new motor into its chassis from the first Grand Prix on March 7. Our brand-new digital simulation tools and testing<br />
benches will give us the means to facilitate this ," he adds. John Barnard is particularly proud of his achievements : " I
contributed to the general plans for the car (wheel base and weight), and more specifically to the design of the front end<br />
and the suspension system ". But it is the drivers who are "the core of the structure," according to Alain <strong>Prost</strong>. Olivier<br />
Panis and Jarno Trulli, with back-up from Stéphane Sarrazin, are getting ready to board their new vehicle for the first<br />
trials at Magny-Cours. All that was left to do was a final adjustment to their seats. " The goal is to gain positions in each<br />
race ," Olivier Panis says. " I have never seen a team of technicians so committed to their drivers."<br />
PROST GP DEVELOPMENTS 29/04/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
The San Marino GP is an important date in the Formula 1 Championship calendar as it is the first European Grand Prix,<br />
and somehow like a second start to the season. During the Brazilian Grand Prix, Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli had the<br />
chance to demonstrate that the <strong>Prost</strong> Peugeot <strong>AP02</strong> finally has the potential to fight with the best teams. So the second<br />
1<strong>99</strong>9 Grand Prix was for the Gauloises <strong>Prost</strong> Peugeot team, the proof that a big step had been achieved. More than ever<br />
ready and motivated to continue this way, the team started an important test programme after Brazil. The first test<br />
session took place in Barcelona with the official test driver Stéphane Sarrazin. He mainly worked on the validation of<br />
aerodynamic measures, completing many laps. It was also his first run in the <strong>Prost</strong> Peugeot <strong>AP02</strong>, and he was very<br />
impressed with what he found. The second test session took place in Jerez with most of the other Formula 1 teams.<br />
Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli worked mainly on the preparation for the Imola Grand Prix, but also to prepare Monaco.<br />
For Imola, they worked on the braking system, especially testing materials and disc cooling. The San Marino race track<br />
really doesn't resemble any other track. There are very few quick corners, and the drivers are between braking and<br />
accelerating most of the time, which means it is very hard on the brakes. The last part of Jerez's test session was based<br />
on the comparisons of different car's set-ups for the qualifying session of the next race. The last test session took place on<br />
the Lurcy-Levis track with Stéphane Sarrazin. He drove a brand new chassis, No 5 of the <strong>Prost</strong> Peugeot <strong>AP02</strong>, which<br />
will be the spare car for Imola. For the first European Grand Prix, the team and the drivers are confidant. The <strong>Prost</strong><br />
Peugeot <strong>AP02</strong> is continually evolving and the different test sessions have shown that the engineers and mechanics of<br />
<strong>Prost</strong> and Peugeot are working in the right direction.<br />
FRENCH GP – RACE REPORT 27/06/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
- OLIVIER PANIS<br />
"Overall, it has been a positive weekend for the team. We have not had any mechanical problems at all and we handled<br />
the qualifying session well. I started on the second row and I spent most of the race in the leading bunch. We did all that<br />
we could, but unfortunately today we did not score any points and that is a pity. But it will happen soon. In any case, I<br />
am happy because my car behaved very well in the rain and I felt good."<br />
- JARNO TRULLI<br />
"I made a good start in gaining one place. I came up behind Olivier and we drove the first part of the race together, our<br />
lap times were very close to those of the leaders until it started to rain. From that moment on, the conditions became<br />
dangerous and I thought the decision to bring in the Safety Car and to keep it on the track as long as it stayed was the<br />
right one. My set-up was not ideal in the rain, I had quite some understeer. I attacked from the start to the finish, but it<br />
wasn't enough for me to get into the points."<br />
- ALAIN PROST<br />
"The hardest thing for the team is to know that we did not score any points today: Above all, it is the first time this<br />
season that we have had both cars running at the finish and both on the same lap as the winner and in the top ten. The<br />
seventh and eighth places are, however, the most difficult to accept, but the important thing for us and for our<br />
supporters is to be fighting at the front of the field during almost the entire race. We were competitive all through the<br />
race, Olivier and Jarno have both driven beautiful races without any errors. The entry of the Safety Car cost us dearly as<br />
we were well placed from the start, but in the end we are satisfied overall to have a weekend that has been positive."<br />
- CORRADO PROVERA of Peugeot Sport<br />
"For the first time this season, our two cars started in the top ten and finished the race. Unfortunately, they finished just<br />
outside the points in the worst positions. It is frustrating for the whole team at our national 'home' Grand Prix and for<br />
the drivers who are not rewarded. One small consolation: we have now gone several Grands Prix without any<br />
mechanical problems troubling us in a race."<br />
EUROPEAN GP – FIA PRESSCONFERENCE 24/09/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
Q: Jarno, can you tell us about the latest EV7 evolution of the Peugeot A18 engine which you will be using here?<br />
Jarno Trulli: Yes, we had the evolution EV5 version with the exhausts on top for qualifying in Spa and at Monza, and we<br />
have gained quite a lot of power, especially at Monza, where we could have been more competitive than I was until I<br />
had a mechanical problem and crashed the car in qualifying. Anyway, I was always close to the top [with this engine]<br />
and I am very happy about this evolution. It is important to see people still pushing to improve the car. Even though we<br />
haven't had the right results, it helps to keep morale high. We used the top-exhaust engine on both cars today and<br />
tomorrow for qualifying we will have the new EV7 version (there is no EV6) which is even stronger than the EV5. It's<br />
getting better and better, which is important with three races still to go.<br />
Q: Alain, there have been so many rumours suggesting that Jarno may join Jordan for the final two races this year.<br />
What can you tell us about this? Do you expect him to stay with you?<br />
Alain <strong>Prost</strong>: For sure we have a contract with Nick [Heidfeld] for next year, but the contract does not cover the end of<br />
this year. In that case, Mercedes and McLaren would obviously have to be involved, but like you and Jarno I have seen a<br />
lot of rumours in the press. If there something is to happen, I would first have to receive a request from Eddie [Jordan],
and only then would I ask Jarno what he might want to do. I would also have to consider what was best for the team in<br />
the next two races, and also for the future. But unless I receive a request I have nothing to consider.<br />
Q: There has been a report that you would be happy to sell part of your team to Peugeot. Is that true?<br />
<strong>Prost</strong>: That was a comment that I made during the year when I was asked a question by an English journalist about the<br />
Peugeot situation. I told him that the best for the team -- or for any team in general -- would be to have an investment<br />
from a major manufacturer. As I said, it would be good for the long-term stability of the team, and to show the<br />
manufacturer's commitment to the team and to Formula 1. But it is not a very recent declaration ...<br />
JAPANESE GP – RACE REPORT 31/10/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
- OLIVIER PANIS<br />
"We were going for a great race weekend, and I can't feel any other way than very disappointed after retiring. Since the<br />
middle of the season, in fact since Didier Cotton and Kéké Rosberg have started to take care of my business, I was able<br />
to concentrate on my job as an F1 driver. Finally I could devote 100% on my work with my team and fight to win. For<br />
my last GP with the team I really wanted to do something special, and I was on the right track for that. I made a very<br />
good start and completed my 18 laps of the race in 3rd position. My car was feeling wonderful and everything was great<br />
until an alternator shaft failure just after my first pit-stop. This cut all the electrics on the car including those to the gear<br />
box. It's one of those things... I think I have proved during the second half of the season, that I am still a good driver and<br />
this will be helpful for my future. I take my hat off to all the team for all the work that has been done. We have<br />
progressed a lot in the last two years, which will give encouragement to all during the off-season. But they mustn't rest<br />
on their laurels - there is a lot of potential for next year, but also still a lot of work to be done."<br />
- JARNO TRULLI<br />
"This morning I had a good feeling with my car, which was well balanced. Even though I broke my gear-box, I was 8 th<br />
in the warm-up with one quick flying lap only. Before the race I did my installation lap and found that all was well with<br />
the car. During the formation lap, I made a start and felt immediately a problem with the clutch which gave me a lot of<br />
wheel spin. I lost two places and following that the engine seemed to lose power. During the fourth lap I had to stop for<br />
a reason we can't determine until we have stripped down the car."<br />
- ALAIN PROST<br />
"In spite of everything we have finished the 1<strong>99</strong>9 Formula 1 season on a high note. Olivier qualified in 6th, Jarno in 7th<br />
place. Olivier made a fantastic start, but sadly our reliability left us. Jarno had a problem that we haven't identified yet<br />
and Olivier a problem with the alternator. He can only be very frustrated for this afternoon's race because he could have<br />
hoped for a podium finish - I would have been very happy for him. Anyway the team is on the right track, but to<br />
combine performance and reliability we still have a lot of work to do. Thank you to all the team for this season of<br />
constant progression, even though at times it was not..."<br />
- CORRADO PROVERA of Peugeot Sport<br />
"Olivier Panis missed the chance of our second podium position this season. His start was incredibly good and he<br />
completed a wonderful first part of the race until his alternator drive broke, which cut the signal to the gear box. Jarno<br />
Trulli's race was prematurely stopped because of an undetermined problem. The last GP of the season saw both <strong>Prost</strong><br />
Peugeots qualify excellently on the grid but it ended sadly. Nevertheless with 9 points and a 2nd place in the European<br />
GP, the global result of the team is much better than last year. Peugeot Sport sincerely thanks Olivier Panis and Jarno<br />
Trulli for the professionalism and determination that they have shown during these last two years of racing, and wish<br />
them a lot of success in the future.<br />
OLIVIER PANIS INTERVIEW BY JOE SAWARD 26/01/1<strong>99</strong>9<br />
At the launch of the new <strong>Prost</strong>-Peugeot <strong>AP02</strong> Olivier Panis admitted that for much of last season he was worried about that if he<br />
crashed we would injure his legs so badly that his F1 career would be over. Panis broke both of his legs in a huge accident in<br />
Montreal in 1<strong>99</strong>7 but made a quick recovery to return to the <strong>Prost</strong> team before the end of that year. He now admits that despite what<br />
he said at the time he was worried.<br />
O Panis: "It is true that I was keeping a little secret last year. I did not always want to be seen talking about the accident<br />
but when I was operated on after the crash the Canadian surgeon said that I would still have some pins and stuff inside<br />
my legs and that there would be a risk that if I have another accident and hurt my legs again, my career might be<br />
finished."I didn't have any choice but to accept at the time because I had to get back into a car as quickly as possible. But<br />
throughout the 1<strong>99</strong>8 season this was always something that was in the back of my mind. It was always worrying me a<br />
little. In fact it did not really make much of an impression on my performance because the car was so bad."<br />
Q: As soon as the season ended you flew to Montreal and underwent further surgery to remove the material and the<br />
pins in his legs. Is the problem now solved?<br />
OP: "Today everything has been taken out and I feel completely fit. We have a completely new car and a highlymotivated<br />
team so I hope that this will be the last time that I have to talk about the accident. I am thinking about the<br />
new car and its development programme."<br />
Q: Do you think that your experiences have made you a lot tougher mentally?<br />
OP: "Sure. I think that given everything I have been through I am stronger. I always had a group of people around me to<br />
support me and Alain <strong>Prost</strong> was very important. He was always there during my convalescence - it was pretty tough at<br />
the beginning - and he helped me. It was good for building my character. When things are going well there are always<br />
people around you, but when things go wrong a lot of them forget you. So when you come back you have a new idea<br />
about people and you become much more objective. You know what are the important things in life and now little<br />
things which used to annoy me I don't care about any more. I am looking at 1<strong>99</strong>9. It is a really important year for me and
for the whole <strong>Prost</strong> team. I am preparing for it like I have never prepared before. It is hard from a physical point of view<br />
but I have big ambitions. I am 100% free of the problem of my legs and now I really want to do well in 1<strong>99</strong>9."<br />
Q: Can you be a little more specific about those aims?<br />
OP: "We want to do better than last year. That will not be too difficult because last year's performance was terrible. The<br />
good thing was that despite all the problems the team stayed together, stayed positive and concentrated on the job of<br />
improving the old car and building a much better one in 1<strong>99</strong>9. It was also a good season because the relationship<br />
between Jarno (Trulli) and I was very good and we were able to keep a good ambiance in the team. This year's car is<br />
very different. It is completely different to the AP01 with completely new technology; input from John Barnard and a<br />
great deal of work which has been done by Loic Bigois and his team on aerodynamics and work on the engine at<br />
Peugeot Sport. They have all built the fastest car they possibly can. It was a lot of work."<br />
Q: You talk about keeping a good ambiance inside the team, but it must have been difficult to keep up your<br />
motivation given the car and the fact that you were worried about your legs?<br />
OP: "Formula 1 is my passion and I want to win races. That is what I wake up every morning wanting to do. I had a few<br />
sleepless nights in 1<strong>99</strong>8 that is true but I really believe that 1<strong>99</strong>9 will be a different story."<br />
Q: How difficult is it to be on good terms with a team-mate? Ultimately the F1 world will judge you on how you do<br />
in competition to him. It must be difficult to keep up a good relationship?<br />
OP: "Jarno is quick and there is always a risk that there can be a problem between two drivers. We have had our<br />
moments of doubt but when that happens we have talked to Alain. If there is a decision to be taken he takes that<br />
decision and we live with it. We are not children and so when there have been things Jarno and I have talked together.<br />
He is a driver of the future. That is obvious. He is fast but he remains objective and very correct towards me. In the races<br />
we fight each other like we would any other driver but in general we work together for the team. That is very good to<br />
keep the team motivated."<br />
Q: Last year at the launch of the AP01 you said that you were confident in the car and that you were looking forward<br />
to a successful new season. What makes you think that this year will be any different?<br />
OP: "Last year when I saw the new car I thought it looked good. We were all hoping to produce miracles. Well, miracles<br />
don't exist. After the first few laps we were a little bit disappointed but we said: "OK. It's going to be a tough year" but<br />
we did not give up. We went to work to make the car reliable and then tried to improve the speed. This new car is a<br />
different story. We have already done a lot of testing with the new engine. The new gearbox has done 3700 miles of<br />
testing. We know from the figures that the chassis is more rigid, the aerodynamics are better, the engine is better and all<br />
these things mean that I am much more confident much more optimistic than I was a year ago."<br />
PEOPLE: LOIC BIGOIS – PROST GP CHIEF DESIGNER AND AERODYNAMICIST<br />
From Aix-en-Provence, in the south of France, Bigois developed a passion for engineering during his school years and<br />
won a place to study engineering at the famous Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris. He specialized in<br />
aerodynamics and after graduating moved to Toulouse, the home of much of France's aerospace industry, to work for<br />
the Microturbo gas turbine company as an aerodynamics engineer. Like many engineers who end up in F1, he found<br />
industry to be rather frustrating. At the end of 1<strong>99</strong>0 he was approached by the Ligier F1 team, which was restructuring<br />
its technical department under Frank Dernie, and was hired to replace departing aerodynamics engineer Henri Durand.<br />
In addition to the aerodynamic work he did a lot of the team's CAD-CAM design work. Guy Ligier's enthusiasm for F1<br />
was beginning to wind down and at the end of 1<strong>99</strong>2 Cyril de Rouvre bought the team. Dernie went to work at Benetton<br />
and Gerard Ducarouge was left in control. Bigois worked under the veteran F1 engineer until mid-‘94 when Ducarouge<br />
was sidelined by new owner Flavio Briatore. Fed up with all the chopping and changing Bigois accepted a job at Sauber,<br />
replacing Mike Gascoyne, working under technical director Andre de Cortanze. The musical chairs was to continue in<br />
mid-‘95 when de Cortanze was hired to be technical director of Ligier - which was by then being run by Tom<br />
Walkinshaw. Bigois followed de Cortanze back to Magny-Cours and played a major role in the design of the ‘96 car. In<br />
March ‘96 Walkinshaw and Briatore fell out and there was yet another reshuffle with Walkinshaw's engineers departing<br />
to join Arrows. Bigois decided to stay in France and was appointed head of research and development under de<br />
Cortanze, who would soon depart from the company leaving Bigois to become Ligier's last technical director. When<br />
Alain <strong>Prost</strong> bought the team Bigois was named chief designer of <strong>Prost</strong> Grand Prix , and he remained in that role under<br />
technical director Alan Jenkins and his replacement Durand until <strong>Prost</strong> closed down and he then moved to Minardi.<br />
PEOPLE: JEAN-PIERRE BOUDY<br />
Jean-Pierre Boudy was born in the Dordogne department in southwest France just as the country was being liberated<br />
from the Germans in July 1944. He spent his student years at France's most famous engineering schools - the Ecole<br />
Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers - first in Bordeaux and then in Paris. His passion was designing racing engines<br />
and, after graduating in 1969, he joined France's most famous competition engine builder Amedee Gordini. A year later<br />
Gordini was taken over by Renault and Boudy was put to work designing a V6 rally engine for Renault. When that job<br />
was completed he teamed up with two other Renault-Gordini rising stars - Francois Castaing and Bernard Dudot - to<br />
design a two-liter V6 engine. This engine went on to win the European two-liter sportscar championship for the Alpine<br />
team; and was modified to win the Le Mans 24 Hours and several European Formula 2 titles. As this success was<br />
unfolding Boudy was away from the race tracks, researching cylinder head designs. In 1975, however, he was back with<br />
Dudot again, designing the prototype Renault F1 turbo engine. This made its race debut in 1977, driven by Jean-Pierre<br />
Jabouille. As the Renault Sport team grew to become one of F1's leading players Boudy ran the engine research and<br />
development department. At the end of 1983, Jean Todt offered him the chance to be head the engine department of the<br />
new Peugeot Talbot Sport organization. Boudy jumped at the chance and in the years that followed his engines enjoyed
emarkable success in rallying - winning the 1985 and the 1986 World titles and the Trans-Sahara Paris-Dakar raid on<br />
several occasions. Boudy's engines even won America's Pike's Peak hillclimb. In 1989 Peugeot set its sights on victory in<br />
the Le Mans 24 Hour race and Boudy designed the V10 engine which went on to power Peugeot 905 sportscars to<br />
victory at Le Mans in 1<strong>99</strong>2 and 1<strong>99</strong>3. Inevitably, Peugeot decided it was time for F1, and so Boudy designed a new V10<br />
engine which was raced in 1<strong>99</strong>4 by the McLaren team. He became technical director of Peugeot Sport but after the<br />
operation was taken over by Asiatech he was replaced but later reappeared workin back at Renault Sport.<br />
CONSTRUCTORS: PROST GRAND PRIX<br />
On February 13, 1<strong>99</strong>7 Alain <strong>Prost</strong> bought the Ligier team from Italian Flavio Briatore. The following day he signed a<br />
three-year deal with Peugeot for 1<strong>99</strong>8-<strong>99</strong>-2000. He inherited Olivier Panis and Shinji Nakano, Mugen-Honda engines<br />
and Bridgestone tires. It was not an easy season although the JS45 was very competitive when the Bridgestone tires were<br />
working and Panis finished fifth in Australia, third in Brazil and looked a likely winner in Argentina until his car broke<br />
down. In Monaco he was fourth and in Spain second so he went to Canada in third place in the World Championship.<br />
Unfortunately he broke both legs in an accident and had to replaced by Jarno Trulli. The Italian did well, leading the<br />
Austrian GP in dominant fashion before his engine failed. Panis returned in September and scored a point in the<br />
Luxembourg Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. A few weeks later the team hired Bernard Dudot to be its technical<br />
director. Trulli was signed to drive alongside Panis in 1<strong>99</strong>8 and Loic Bigois designed the <strong>Prost</strong>-Peugeot AP01. While this<br />
was being produced the team moved from the old Ligier base at Magny-Cours to a new factory at Guyancourt near<br />
Versailles. Unfortunately the new car was not reliable, modifications to the troublesome gearbox made the car handle<br />
badly and the 1<strong>99</strong>8 season was very disappointing. <strong>Prost</strong> did a deal to use John Barnard as a technical consultant and<br />
that was announced in December 1<strong>99</strong>8 with Barnard's B3 Technologies helping Bigois and the design of the <strong>AP02</strong>. Panis<br />
and Trulli both agreed to stay in 1<strong>99</strong>9 and the <strong>AP02</strong> proved not to be a bad car although the Peugeot engine had become<br />
too big and too heavy. <strong>Prost</strong> bolstered the technical team midway through 1<strong>99</strong>9 by hiring Alan Jenkins to be his new<br />
technical director and in the autumn hired Formula 3000 Champion Nick Heidfeld and Jean Alesi to drive in 2000. The<br />
2000 season was a disaster with Jenkins fired in the midseason. <strong>Prost</strong> restructured again, bringing in Joan Villadelprat as<br />
managing director and Henri Durand as technical director and selling a shareholding in the team to the Diniz Family.<br />
Alain also did a deal for the team to use Ferrari engines in 2001 and there was much optimism at the start of 2001 that<br />
the team was finally moving in the right direction. But the money ran out and at the start of 2002 <strong>Prost</strong> went out of<br />
business, leaving a debt of around $30m.<br />
PROST <strong>AP02</strong> – RACE SUMMARY<br />
Date Race # Driver Chassis Qual Qual time + PP Result Points<br />
07/03/<strong>99</strong> Australia 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/03 20 1'35.068 4.606 DNF/23 laps/Wheel 0<br />
07/03/<strong>99</strong> Australia 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/02 12 1'32.971 2.509 DNF/25 laps/Collision 0<br />
11/04/<strong>99</strong> Brazil 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/03 12 1'18.636 2.068 6 TH/71 laps/(-1 lap) 1<br />
11/04/<strong>99</strong> Brazil 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/02 13 1'18.684 2.116 DNF/21 laps/Gearbox 0<br />
02/05/<strong>99</strong> San Marino 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/03 11 1'28.205 1.843 DNF/48 laps/Throttle 0<br />
02/05/<strong>99</strong> San Marino 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/02 14 1'28.403 2.041 DNF/0 laps/Spun off 0<br />
16/05/<strong>99</strong> Monaco 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/03 18 1'22.916 2.369 DNF/40 laps/Engine 0<br />
16/05/<strong>99</strong> Monaco 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/05 7 1'21.769 1.222 7 TH/77 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
30/05/<strong>99</strong> Spain 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 15 1'23.559 1.471 DNF/24 laps/Gearbox 0<br />
30/05/<strong>99</strong> Spain 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/06 9 1'23.194 1.106 6 TH/64 laps/(-1 lap) 1<br />
13/06/<strong>99</strong> Canada 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 15 1'21.252 1.954 9 TH/68 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
13/06/<strong>99</strong> Canada 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/06 9 1'20.557 1.259 DNF/0 laps/Collision 0<br />
27/06/<strong>99</strong> France 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 3 1'40.400 1.959 8 TH/72 laps/ +58.531 0<br />
27/06/<strong>99</strong> France 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 8 1'42.096 3.655 7 TH/72 laps/ +57.771 0<br />
11/07/<strong>99</strong> Great Britain 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 15 1'27.543 2.739 13 TH/60 laps/ +1'20.492 0<br />
11/07/<strong>99</strong> Great Britain 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 14 1'27.227 2.423 9 TH/60 laps/ +1'12.045 0<br />
25/07/<strong>99</strong> Austria 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 18 1'13.457 2.503 10 TH/70 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
25/07/<strong>99</strong> Austria 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 13 1'12.<strong>99</strong>9 2.045 7 TH/70 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
01/08/<strong>99</strong> Germany 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 7 1'43.979 1.029 6 TH/45 laps/ +29.879 1<br />
01/08/<strong>99</strong> Germany 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 9 1'44.209 1.259 DNF/10 laps/Engine 0<br />
15/08/<strong>99</strong> Hungary 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 14 1'19.841 1.685 10 TH/76 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
15/08/<strong>99</strong> Hungary 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 13 1'19.788 1.632 8 TH/76 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
29/08/<strong>99</strong> Belgium 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 17 1'53.148 2.819 13 TH/44 laps/+1'41.543 0<br />
29/08/<strong>99</strong> Belgium 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 12 1'52.644 2.315 12 TH/44 laps/+1'36.154 0<br />
12/09/<strong>99</strong> Italy 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 10 1'24.016 1.584 11 TH/52 laps/Engine 0<br />
12/09/<strong>99</strong> Italy 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 12 1'24.293 1.861 DNF/29 laps/Overheating 0<br />
26/09/<strong>99</strong> Europe 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 5 1'20.638 0.728 9 TH/65 laps/(-1 lap) 0<br />
26/09/<strong>99</strong> Europe 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 10 1'20.965 1.055 2 ND/66 laps/+22.619 6<br />
17/10/<strong>99</strong> Malaysia 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 12 1'42.208 2.520 DNF/5 laps/Engine 0<br />
17/10/<strong>99</strong> Malaysia 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 18 1'42.948 3.260 DNS/0 laps/Engine 0<br />
31/10/<strong>99</strong> Japan 18 O Panis <strong>AP02</strong>/05 6 1'39.623 2.153 DNF/19 laps/Alternator 0<br />
31/10/<strong>99</strong> Japan 19 J Trulli <strong>AP02</strong>/07 7 1'39.644 2.174 DNF/3 laps/Engine 0
1<strong>99</strong>9 SEASON REVIEW – GAULOISES PROST PEUGEOT by Ewan Tytler<br />
Gauloises <strong>Prost</strong> <strong>AP02</strong>-Peugeot A18 / 7th, 9 Points / 0 wins, 0 Pole Positions, 0 Fastest Laps, 15 DNF / Team Principal: Alain <strong>Prost</strong>.<br />
The <strong>Prost</strong>-Peugeot <strong>AP02</strong> set very competitive times in pre-season testing at Catalunya, but it was a different story under<br />
racing trim. The Peugeot A18 engine was obviously very fast, but was overweight compared to the Mercedes, Ferrari<br />
and Ford engines. This seems to have caused problems in properly balancing the car, especially on slow circuits.<br />
Although Jarno Trulli and Olivier Panis didn't publicly complain, it was clear that the <strong>Prost</strong> <strong>AP02</strong> was a handful to drive<br />
and was unstable under braking. On high-speed circuits like Hockenheim and Monza, the <strong>Prost</strong>s were fast but tended to<br />
be mobile chicanes. Under wet conditions at Magny-Cours and the Nurburgring, the <strong>AP02</strong> handled quite well. Tension<br />
built between <strong>Prost</strong> and Peugeot during the season but this appears to have resolved itself with an increased<br />
commitment from Peugeot.<br />
IMAGE GALLERY<br />
Jarno Trulli at Canada ’<strong>99</strong>. Jarno Trulli at Magny Cours during testing.<br />
Jarno Trulli showing the <strong>AP02</strong> profile at Brazil ’<strong>99</strong>.<br />
SOURCES<br />
http://www.peugeot.com.hk/sport_prost_peugeot.htm<br />
http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-prost.html<br />
http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00311.html<br />
http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cref-bigloi.html<br />
http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cref-boujea.html<br />
http://www.atlasf1.com/<strong>99</strong>/nov10/tytler.html<br />
http://www.atlasf1.com/news/2000/features/launch/prost.html<br />
http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html?http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/<strong>99</strong>01290847.shtml<br />
http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html?http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/<strong>99</strong>04290901.shtml<br />
© Compilation by Rainer Nyberg 2003-09-16 Fact-sheet 03/104