Prost AP02

Prost AP02

Jarno Trulli driving the AP02 at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Prost
Designer(s)	Bernard Dudot (Technical Director) Loïc Bigois (Chief Engineer) Ben Wood (Head of Aerodynamics) John Barnard (Technical Consultant)
Predecessor	AP01
Successor	AP03
Technical specifications
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre composite structure
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, pushrod
Engine	Peugeot A18, 3.0-litre 72-degree V10
Transmission	Prost six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power	785 hp @ 15,700 rpm [1]
Fuel	Total
Tyres	Bridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrants	Gauloises Prost Peugeot
Notable drivers	18. Olivier Panis 19. Jarno Trulli
Debut	1999 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	1999 Japanese Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 16 0 1 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Prost AP02 was the car with which the Prost Formula One team competed in the 1999 Formula One season. It was driven by Olivier Panis, in his sixth season with the team (including Ligier), and Jarno Trulli, in his second full season with the team.

After the team's dramatic slump in 1998, the 1999 season marked a small improvement in form. John Barnard, who had designed Prost's championship winning McLarens of the mid 1980s was brought in to help develop the car. The car showed flashes of promise, especially when Trulli scored his first podium finish at the wet 1999 European Grand Prix. ^[2] The Italian moved to Jordan to replace the retiring Damon Hill in 2000, whilst Panis endured another frustrating year, often let down by reliability and left the team at the end of the season to join McLaren as a test driver. ^[3]

The team finished 7th in the Constructors' Championship, with nine points.

The AP02 later became notable for being the first F1 car driven by future World Champion Jenson Button in an official test session, in December 1999. ^[4]

Sponsorship and livery

Prost used 'Gauloises' logos, except at the French, British and Belgian Grands Prix. Other sponsors including Canal+, Agfa-Gevaert, Total S.A., Bic, Alcatel Mobile, PlayStation and Sodexho.

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
1999	Prost	Peugeot V10	B		AUS	BRA	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	EUR	MAL	JPN	9	7th
				Olivier Panis	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	8	13	10	6	10	13	11	9	Ret	Ret
				Jarno Trulli	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	6	Ret	7	9	7	Ret	8	12	Ret	2	DNS	Ret

References

1. "Engine Peugeot". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
2. "1999 Prost AP02". GPEXTREME. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
3. "1999 Prost AP02 Peugeot - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
4. "Button Tests For Prost". crash.net. 20 December 1999. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

• AUTOCOURSE 1999-2000, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1999) ISBN   1-874557-34-9