Prost AP01
 A die-cast model of the AP01 | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Prost | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Loïc Bigois | ||||||||
| Predecessor | JS45 | ||||||||
| Successor | AP02 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | double wishbones, pushrod | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | double wishbones, pushrod | ||||||||
| Engine | Peugeot A16, 72-degree V10 | ||||||||
| Transmission | Prost six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic | ||||||||
| Fuel | Total | ||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Gauloises Prost Peugeot | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 11.  Olivier Panis12.  Jarno Trulli | ||||||||
| Debut | 1998 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Prost AP01 was the car with which the Prost Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One season. It was driven by Olivier Panis, who was in his fifth season with the team (including its time as Ligier), and Jarno Trulli, who was in his first full season with Prost after deputising for the injured Panis for several races in 1997.
Prost used 'Gauloises' logos, except at the French, British and German Grands Prix.
The AP01 was the first-ever Prost car to utilize Peugeot V10 engine factory works deal that started in 1998 season and thus earned direct factory support from Peugeot.
Race history
After the good results of the previous season, 1998 was a disaster for Prost. The AP01's main weakness was its gearbox: it was unreliable and heavy, which prevented the team from finishing races, upset the balance of the car and meant that the team could not optimise the position of its ballast, as many of its rivals could. It was Jarno Trulli who first identified the balance problems with the rear end of the car. The AP01 had a major overhaul before the Canadian Grand Prix, with the rear suspension being completely revised.[1] The team also scraped into the season by a narrow margin after the chassis failed the mandatory FIA crash test three times.[2]
With these problems allied with the relocation of the team's factory nearer Paris, the year turned into an exercise in damage limitation. A single point was scored for sixth place, at the chaotic 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, giving Prost 9th place in the Constructors' Championship. Only 8 cars finished the Belgian race with the two cars behind Trulli having spent so long in the pits being repaired their drivers were able to get out of the car for some time. In the final 6 laps Trulli lost an entire lap to the front runners with engine problems but still managed to finish.[3]
For the first few races, X-wings were used, but they were banned after the San Marino Grand Prix.
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 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Gauloises Prost Peugeot | Peugeot V10 | B | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | LUX | JPN | 1 | 9th | |
| Olivier Panis | 9 | Ret | 15 | 11 | 16 | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | Ret | 15 | 12 | DNS | Ret | 12 | 11 | ||||||
| Jarno Trulli | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10 | 12 | Ret | 6 | 13 | Ret | 12 |
References
- AUTOCOURSE 1998-99, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1998) ISBN 1-874557-43-8
- ^ "Prost And Williams Seek Solutions". www.crash.net. 14 May 1998. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ Collins, Aaron (3 September 2018). "F1: Prost Grand Prix - What went wrong?". Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "1998 Prost AP01". GPEXTREME. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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