JANUARY 23, 2001
Prost targets good start to the season as Mazzacane prepares to test
ALAIN PROST has said that he expects his team to make a good start to the 2001 season and to score the championship points that eluded his outfit last year.
Prost Grand Prix were left pointless after a disastrous 2000 season and after bringing in new driver Gaston Mazzacane to replace Nick Heidfeld to team-up with Jean Alesi, the team boss is confident.
The Guyancourt-based team have also secured a new engine deal with Ferrari, and although Prost admits the team's new car is still in its early development stages he expects to score points in the opening races of the season.
"Henri Durand, our new technical director, has arrived with little time to define our aerodynamic package before the start of the season," said Prost.
"But the car that we will have in the first race will have various aerodynamic and technical changes. Then from the fourth race of the season you will see new developments.
"In the early races, when other teams will have problems with their new cars it is necessary for our goal to be to collect precious points. That is our aim."
Prost have already shook down their new car in a private test at Magny-Cours last week.
The team will test for the first time in public this week at Barcelona, with Mazzacane expected to make his debut in the team's new car after his move from Minardi.
Prost added: "We want to gradually progress in the level of performances and for this we have planned one series of developments."