Conference krakar::f1

  >    This has resulted in Honda being very upset. OK, everyone knows that
>    Honda will supply Benetton next year, but no public announcement was
>    made by Briatore. Prost obviously made a big mistake. He could have
>    delayed.

  Patrick,

  Why should Prost worry about how Honda or Briatore feel? Will his team
  still have ties to Briatore or will he totally separate? Am I missing
  something here?

  Rgds, Steve

    Prost owns 100% of Ligier which he bought from Flavio Briatore, Guy
    Ligier and a few investment companies. He has nothing to worry.
    
    The problem is with Honda. Honda have been very happy to see Olivier
    Panis win Monaco last year. They have started a whole program to
    develop their V10. Olivier Panis has publicly declared that the engines
    he has tested this winter were MUCH MUCH better than everything he was
    used to. Honda want to win races this year - originally with Ligier -
    but now with Prost Grand Prix.
    
    And suddenly, Prost makes a big announcement about 1998 and how the new
    team will be expecting to win races with Peugeot and thanks to their
    formidable engine.
    
    Honda did not like that. What may happen is that they just supply 1996
    version V10s to Prost.
    
    In my opinion Prost could have announced that he was now the sole owner
    of Ligier and that the team was now renamed Prost Grand Prix. By the
    middle of the year (and after a couple of wins with the Honda engine..) he 
    could have had a second press event announcing the Peugeot deal.
                                                                          

RE: .2

Maybe it was Peugeot that insisted he announce the deal now.

--PSW

    There is an interesting interview with Alain Prost in today's l'Equipe,
    concentrating mainly on his experiences as a driver in Brazil. He
    states that the welcome from the Brazilian fans is warmer than anywhere
    else, even in France, or Italy when he was driving for Ferrari.
    
    He goes on to say that he never felt the need for protection from body
    guards in Brazil, even at the height of his rivalry with Senna. He did
    need protection in Italy after he left Ferrari.
    
    Apparently, the Brazilian press has made Panis the favorite for
    Sunday's race if it rains! Why not, after all.
    
    Prost is also now an active member of the Ayrton Senna Foundation for
    children. This confirms my long-held belief that he is not only an
    outstanding driver, but he is also a fine human being.
    
    Edward.

    Once again a very good week-end for Prost GP with Panis driving a
    beautiful race to 3rd on the podium. The 1-stop strategy shows that
    Bridgestone definitely have good tyres (who else could manage 40 laps
    on the same set?). And again a very good result for Honda and Mugen. 

    The future of the Prost GP team is looking sound, financially that is.
    
    Is it due to the good results obtained by Olivier Panis in Australia
    and Brazil? The list of french companies interested in having their
    names printed on the cars is building up.
    
    The well-known candidates are:
    
    - Total 		(Oil, associated with Peugeot)
    - Dassault  	(CATIA CAD software)
    - Alcatel
    - Carbone Industrie (Disc brakes, sub of SEP, rocket engines)
    - Aerospatiale
    - Michelin 
    
    I heard that TOTAL's support could be announced soon.

    I think that BIC (you know, the razor and ballpoint pen people) have
    also signed a sponsorship deal with PGP for several years.
    
    I am beginning to question the wisdom of his decision to go with
    Peugeot next year, because they seem to be doing just fine with the
    Mugen.
    
    Edward.

    .7�    I am beginning to question the wisdom of his decision to go with
    .7�    Peugeot next year, because they seem to be doing just fine with the
    .7�    Mugen.
    
    Alain Prost definitely wants to build a F1 team with the support of a
    lot of French industry.
    
    Now I fully agree that given the current situation he should have
    started with strengthening the Honda (not Mugen which is just a small
    repair shop) deal. This way he would have secured the 1997 season.
    Maybe that was not possible ie Honda have other plans for 1998 and
    beyond ...

There was some talk of mr Walkinshaw getting his hands on those 
Hondas!

Steve

    Re: .8

    There was a feature on Mugen in Racecar Engineering a couple of years
    back.  It's a large, technically advanced, and very capable engine
    design and manufacture firm.  If it's a "repair shop" then I'm Bill
    Clinton.  (BTW, it's fun selecting Ignore when that name pops up in the
    spellchecker.)

    While the Bridgestones and superior ownership/management have
    contributed greatly to the newfound competitiveness of Prost-Mugen, the
    engine has made a very big difference as well.  I would think most of
    the teams would move heaven and earth to get the Mugen after Prost
    drops it.

    George

    George

    George,
    
    I don't think Prost GP current success owes much to Mugen. At least in
    F1, Mugen is only building / rebuilding engines designed by Honda.
    Actually based on the last race I don't think the Prost drivers were
    too happy about the work done by Mugen with both engines giving up.
    
    I'm really questioning the decision to go with Peugeot when Prost could
    have secured a privileged link with Honda. Given the performance of the
    current engine I'm sure Honda will have a winner next year.

    ...and the fact that Prost drove a Honda-powered car to  a world title.
    
    Edward

    PGP has secured yet another lucrative sponsorship deal.
    Telecommunications giant Alcatel will be backing the team as of
    tomorrow, when the cars are rolled out for practice in Monte Carlo.
    
    With a sponsor like that, the team should not, at the very least,
    suffer any of the Benettonesque communications failures between pits
    and car.
    
    Edward.

	.. and they're moving from Magny Cours to a site near Paris.
	Apparnetly Prost actually favoured a UK base but..

    .14�	.. and they're moving from Magny Cours to a site near Paris.
    .14�	Apparnetly Prost actually favoured a UK base but..
    
    Prost is an official "friend" of France's President Jacques Chirac.
    Since Ligier and Magny-Cours are/were 2 known "problems" because of
    strong links with previous President Francois Mitterrand, Prost had no
    choice but break all links with the past. 
    
    So, the PGP team will soon move to a place called Satory (ex-Army base) 
    which is located some 10 minutes down the road from Velizy where Peugeot 
    Sport are located. This will definitely strengthen the PGP-PeugeotSport
    links. (Now, what happens when Prost decides to use other engines?).