Tuesday February 1st, 2000

Both Alain Prost and his technical director Alan Jenkins went out of their way at the French team's launch of its 2000 challenger on Tuesday to stress that the new AP03 was something far more than an evolutionary car. Short of claiming it was revolutionary, Jenkins said it was all-new in every way and had more in common with the SF3, the Stewart-Ford team's very successful car last year, in which he had a hand.

Jenkins, who joined the Paris-based Prost team in June 1999 as technical director, working in tandem with technical consultant, friend and fellow Briton John Barnard to ensure super fabrication techniques, greater unity of purpose throughout the team and better links with Peugeot, the team's engine suppliers and technical partners. He also supervised the design and production, but naturally drew on his most recent experience with the Stewart car which was a success.

"Prost Grand Prix is still a young company which has seen a rapid rise and growth in its first two seasons and I believe that despite what a lot of people said last year, the team has succeeded. The Prost-Peugeot AP03 is a truly significant step forward for the team in our technological development. It is going to bring us nearer to our common objective - which is winning."

To judge from looks alone, the car is a beauty. It has sleek clean lines, a pretty profile and attractive blue and white livery which adds to the good impression created by the aerodynamic work of Jenkins and his chief assistant, aerodynamicist Loic Bigois. Both were obviously proud of their job at the launch at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday.

"We have gone through everything looking for improvements, including all the fabrication processes and so on," said Jenkins. "As a result, we have concentrated on a lot of small things which I think we have improve on as well as the general aero package. There is very little carried over from the AP02 on this car.

"The most significant improvements could be the package advantages we have now after introducing the new Peugeot A20 engine and adopting common oil circuits for gearbox and engine. That shows the level of co-operation we have achieved between us, Prost and Peugeot, and comes from our policy of weekly meetings, even if sometimes there is not a lot of talk about."

Jenkins confirmed that the new engine is shorter, lower and lighter than its predecessor and added that the centre of gravity of the car had been further improved by lowering the driver's seat positions and the forward section of the chassis. This, he said, involved a complete re-packaging of the torsion spring and damper package.

The car continues to use the top exit exhaust which was introduced in 1999 and this has allowed composite suspension to be adopted at the rear as well as the front. "It has been very enjoyable and good work," said Jenkins. "I am pleased with the car, even if I know there are one or two more things I would like to do. But I expect everyone always feels that with any new racing car."