Approximately ten months ago, I wrote an article on the future of Ligier in Formula One ("Ligier: Combien coute une ecurie de Formule 1 Francaise?" Vol. 2, No. 6). Written during the weekend of the 1996 San Marino Grand Prix, my view was somewhat optimistic despite the almost barren exterior of the JS43. Sponsors and key employees of the team had departed, along with Tom Walkinshaw to TWR’s newly acquired addition, Arrows.

Admittedly, Ligier did win the next race, and yes, it did surprise me... perhaps more than anyone (other than Tom Walkinshaw). My frame of mind at the time was that Ligier is always going to be a survivor; a French apostrophe in a world long dominated by English and Italian constructors. Ligier has long been in a cocoon, now finally to emerge as a butterfly.

The butterfly is of course Prost.

After all, It is not the first time that Alain Prost has expressed interest in the Magny-Cours based team. In the dark winter at the end of the 1991 Formula One season, Prost was testing the Ligier. Sometimes going as far as disguising himself in other drivers helmets. Nothing was ever finalised and Prost was left out of Formula One before his return in 1993 and his fourth World Championship.

The concept of turning the clock back at Ligier has been much talked about of late. Placing Alain Prost at the head of the constructor completes what some people might describe as a return to the original intention of the team. Setup in 1975 by French rugby international, Guy Ligier, the team has long been heralded for its tradition of supporting French Talent in the Formula One arena. I do have to ask however, just how French is a team which relies on Japanese engines, a new Japanese driver and most interestingly of all, Japanese tires.

This is where the rejuvenation of Prost will come from in my eyes, Bridgestone. Few people expected Bridgestone to be quite this quick out of the box, and the performance in wet conditions has been little short of remarkable. With this apparent edge over the Goodyear shod teams, Ligier has the potential to be a formidable opponent in wet weather conditions. While Monaco 1996 was claimed by Oliver Panis under conditions that could be generously described as freakish, the chance of wins in 1997 could be described as almost certain.

Some readers may find it somewhat odd that I choose to put Prost forward as the team to break the stranglehold of Formula One by the big four. While I do retain my faith in Tom Walkinshaw to turn Arrows into an effective team, I still find myself with huge question marks over the reliability of the Yamaha powerplant that propelled Tyrrell to 16 retirements in 32 starts. By the end of the 1996 season, a conservative estimate suggested that Yamaha had suffered in the region of 60 engine failures during testing and race weekends.

News from the Arrows camp has been grim in pre-season testing. Many days spent testing have seen either one or both cars sidelined with teething problems. The time for Arrows will come, but it appears not to be this year.

As for the other Bridgestone teams, despite Stewart’s huge backing, there is still doubt in my mind. Not that the team is new, nor indeed that the team is relying on the problematic Ford V10 which underpowered Sauber last year. I somehow have my doubts about a team that never managed to conquer the Formula 3000 Championship. Lola’s previous attempts at Formula One are perhaps best left unmentioned, and with the team lacking in driver experience, except perhaps in the form of their test driver, Andrea Montermini (who has already been mentioned as a possible mid-season replacement for one of the Lola race drivers). Minardi is the one team that many would like to see succeed - myself included. For Minardi to make the jump, the one thing that is currently missing is the budget. On the face of it, Prost is the team with the edge to claim Bridgestone’s maiden win on their return to Formula One.

Unfortunately the life of the butterfly is short, and I see this as true in the case of Prost. While Peugeot power for Prost in 1998 seems almost a certainty at the time I write this, the advantage that Prost hold for this season is the Bridgestone tires. If indeed these black weapons of rubber turn out to be as sensational as predicted, it will not be long before allegiance will be switched from a team within the big four. If Bridgestone can turn Prost into a winner, just imagine the potential that could be realised for McLaren, or Benetton.