NOVEMBER 17, 1997

Prost's F3000 plans

ALAIN PROST has confirmed that he is to work in association with Formula 3000 team Apomatox to try out a series of up-and-coming drivers.

ALAIN PROST has confirmed that he is to work in association with Formula 3000 team Apomatox to try out a series of up-and-coming drivers. The scheme will be overseen by Prost's Cesare Fiorio, which suggests that, as expected, he will be playing less of a role within the F1 organization.

The exact form of the relationship has yet to be established but initially Apomatox will test a number of young drivers to see if they show exceptional talent. The drivers being tested are Frenchman Nicolas Minassian, who was runner up in the BritishÊF3 Championship, Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin from the French F3 series, Marcelo Battistuzzi runner-up in the Italian F3 series and Formula Opel driver Paolo Ruberti.

If any of the drivers prove to be particularly impressive they may be offered a drive in the Apomatox F3000 team next season. At the moment the team is believed to be considering deals with established F3000 drivers Soheil Ayari and LaurentÊRedon.

The Apomatox team is expected to be funded by the same sponsors as appear on the Prost cars in F1, the project having been pushed considerably by Bruno Courtois, an important Peugeot dealer who has a shareholding in Apomatox.