Cheers AP01

**Cheers AP01**
	A Prost AP01 as a model car
Constructor:	cheers
Designer:	Bernard Dudot (technical director) ; Loïc Bigois (designer) ; Ben Wood (aerodynamics)
Predecessor:	Cheers JS45
Successor:	Cheers AP02
Technical specifications
Chassis:	Honeycomb sandwich monocoque made of CFRP
Engine:	Peugeot A16 2,998 cm³, 72 ° V10 naturally aspirated engine
Front suspension:	Double wishbone axle with internal springs and shock absorbers , operated via push rods
Rear suspension:	Double wishbone axle with internal springs and shock absorbers , operated via push rods
Length:	4135 mm
Width:	1795 mm
Height:	0948 mm
Wheelbase:	2795 mm
Weight:	0505 kg
Tires:	Bridgestone
Petrol:	Total
statistics
Driver:	11. Olivier Panis 12. Jarno Trulli ;
First start:	1998 Australian Grand Prix
Last start:	1998 Japanese Grand Prix
World Cup points:	1
Podiums:	-
Leadership laps:	-
	Status: end of season 1998

The Prost AP01 was the Formula 1 racing cars of Prost Grand Prix for the 1998 season . He took part in all 16 races of the season.

Technology and development

The rear wing

Due to the new regulations, the AP01 was only 1795 mm wide, 4135 mm long and 948 mm high; the wheelbase was 2795 mm. A Peugeot A16 naturally aspirated engine with ten cylinders and four-valve technology was used as the engine. It developed around 522 kW (700 hp ). The car reached a top speed of 340 km / h. The motor weighs 125 kg and is 620 mm long, 512 mm wide and 393 mm high. The transmission, developed by George Ryton , was a new sequential six-speed semi-automatic transmission from our own production. The wheels were suspended at the front and rear on double wishbones with push rods. The braking system had Brembo carbon fiber discs . On each side of the car was a water cooler for the engine and extra cooling for the oil tank. So-called X-Wings were used for the first races, but they were banned after the San Marino Grand Prix .

Racing history

The team's base was relocated from the old Ligier factory in Abrest to Guyancourt and was able to open shortly before the start of the season. The new car was presented in Barcelona instead of France in mid-January because of the tobacco advertising ban. The winter test drives took place on the circuit in Magny-Cours. The poor handling , the lack of reliability and the excessive weight of the gearbox were immediately discovered there; in addition, the car was too heavy on the rear axle. The mandatory crash test was only successfully completed a few hours before the first training session in Australia ; after three attempts had failed.

The season was unsatisfactory for the French racing team. Only one point was reached in the world championship, experienced by Jarno Trulli in Belgium , and ninth place ahead of Minardi and Tyrrell . During the season, the drivers did not finish a total of 19 times. Five times the engine or individual faults and three times the transmission were to blame for the failures.

Painting and sponsorship

The basic color of the AP01 was the traditional dark blue with black and white accents on the rear and front wing. The team's main sponsor was the French cigarette brand Gauloises with advertising space on the rear wing, the airbox and the front wing. For races with a ban on tobacco advertising, the logo was replaced by white horizontal bars. On the back of the rear wing was the brand of the tire supplier Bridgestone on a white background . The Japanese electronics company Sony advertised its PlayStation game console on the side pods, with the names of the engine manufacturer Peugeot and the fuel supplier Total directly above it . Other sponsors were 3M , Alcatel , BIC Group and Canal + .

driver

As in the previous year, the drivers were Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli ; The Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin was nominated as test driver , who participates together with Marcelo Battistuzzi in the Formula 3000 in the Prost Junior Team .

AP01B

After the French Grand Prix , the team worked on a new and improved version of the AP01. The modified car received a new gearbox, a revised engine and the weight on the rear axle was reduced. The new car, tested by Alain Prost and the drivers Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli in Magny-Cours and in October in Catalonia, was used by Trulli for the first time in free practice sessions and qualifying in Japan . The Italian did not get the new car because he was the team's favorite driver, but because it was decided by tossing a coin in favor of Trullis. In qualifying, Trulli was only able to qualify for 14th place and then asked the team leaders to be allowed to switch back to the old AP01, which was rejected. In the warm-up, the car was so badly damaged after an accident that it was not ready for use in the race.

Results

driver	No.	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	Points	rank
Formula 1 World Championship 1998																		1	9.
France O. Panis	11	9	DNF	15th	11	16	DNF	DNF	11	DNF	DNF	15th	12	DNS	DNF	12	11
Italy J. Trulli	12	DNF	DNF	11	DNF	9	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	10	12	DNF	6th	13	DNF	12