Prost to race new car

(23-Oct-98) - Prost has decided officially to take its new B spec AP01 to
the final race of the season.

The car, which has impressed the team and drivers during testing, features
a new Peugeot engine and an entirely new gearbox and has been described as
an 'interim' car.

"We decided to take the AP01B to Suzuka because that's a good
opportunity to test this 'interim' car in a race situation," said
team-boss Alain Prost.

"The tests we have just completed have given us very encouraging
results but we are not completely sure of the reliability of the hybrid
car. It's a risk but at the same time we will gather extra information and
experience very useful for the work in progress on the AP02."

"Furthermore, the tyre-test session proposed by Bridgestone at Suzuka
after the Grand Prix, has been a factor in our decision to bring two types
of car."

Prost also confirmed that the drivers had drawn lots to decide who would
race the single AP01B in Suzuka and it was Jarno Trulli who will drive the
new car: "For us either Olivier (Panis) or Jarno would have made no
difference, and it was Jarno's name that came out."

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4