A1GP news

Prost reflects on France's season

With the fourth A1 Grand Prix season completed at Brands Hatch and the title sewn up by A1 Team Ireland on Sunday, Season 1 Champions France finished off the campaign with a tenth position to confirm a top five place in the final standings of 2008-2009. Driver Nicholas Prost looks back upon a season of ups and downs.   

"As is often the case, there are both positive and negative conclusions to be drawn from this season," said the 27-year-old son of three-time F1 Champion Alain. "From a positive point of view, I showed that I was able to fight at the front in Chengdu, Kyalami and Brands Hatch. We were able to match the pace of the quickest, which is encouraging for my first year. Negatively speaking, we didn't score many telling results; sometimes because of errors on my part and other times because of mechanical problems for which the team wasn't responsible - I don't like talking too much about luck, but I have to say that we didn't have a lot at certain moments!"

This season saw the debut of the Ferrari powered A1 cars, with lap times at many circuits decreasing significantly as a result. "Honestly, Ferrari's done a fantastic job with this car," Prost continued. "Even if it ran into a few reliability problems, which is normal at this level of racing, they were able to solve them very quickly. In addition, the car's level of competitiveness is excellent. I'm sure it'll progress a lot during the break."

Despite finishing fifth in the championship, France - renowned for its competitiveness in previous years - was somewhat off the pace for much of this season. "I think that several factors explain this situation," Prost went on. "First of all, with the arrival of the new car, the overall level of the championship made a big step forward and A1GP attracted quicker and quicker drivers. Changing drivers in the middle of the season isn't ideal; I also suffered because of a lack of experience, but don't confuse a lack of results with a lack of competitiveness - with a little bit more luck, we could have scored at least two rostrum finishes.

"Brands Hatch was very encouraging as we had the speed to win. We worked well in the final races and we learned from our mistakes. We've now got a good base for the future; at the moment nothing's been decided for next year, but the team and I get on like a house on fire at every level. The quality of the championship is very high and you have to work really hard to be at the front - the teams that won showed that stability is crucial if you want to win the championship."

more news

• 05 Nov.
  • Possible delay for Chinese and Malaysian rounds
• 17 Oct.
  • Season-opening Surfers race called off
• 13 Oct.
  • Teixeira pleased to return to China
• 25 Sep.
  • New financial package in place
  • Martin targets home win in Surfers Paradise
• 21 Sep.
  • Season 5 calendar unveiled
• 17 Sep.
  • Duran back with Interwetten
• 14 Sep.
  • Jani to test simulator for Force India
• 07 Sep.
  • Cosworth appoints Mark Gallagher
  • Pre-season testing to take place in Australia
• 14 Aug.
  • Jani injured in cycling accident
• 12 Aug.
  • Karthikeyan aiming for F1 seat in 2010
• 10 Aug.
  • Indonesia's Hermanto joins Litespeed F3
• 05 Aug.
  • Assen to enjoy demo run on Sunday
• 28 Jul.
  • Gold Coast revs up for A1 arrival
• 23 Jul.
  • Quinn always a possibility for Ireland
• 22 Jul.
  • Teixeira sends condolences to Surtees family
• 26 Jun.
  • FIA clears Season 5 calendar
• 11 Jun.
  • Morad aims for top three next season
• 18 May
  • A1GP moves from Zandvoort to Assen
• 13 May
  • GPUpdate A1GP Season Highlights 2008-2009
• 07 May
  • Prost reflects on France's season
• 03 May
  • Clarke enjoyed home support at Brands Hatch
  • Carroll: a perfect weekend
  • Carroll and Team Ireland win A1GP championship!
  • Photos: Sunday at Brands Hatch
  • Ireland closes in on title after winning sprint race
  • Lim ready for debut race at Brands Hatch
• 02 May
  • Carroll: "It's Ireland's title to lose"
  • Switzerland and Portugal not giving up
  • Photos: Saturday at Brands Hatch
  • Carroll secures both pole positions at Brands Hatch
  • Bleekemolen fastest in Saturday practice, but spins
• 01 May
  • Netherlands on top of second Friday session
  • Photos: Friday at Brands Hatch
  • France sets A1 Brands Hatch record
  • GPUpdate TV: Jani marks opening of new tunnel
• 29 Apr.
  • Swine flu forces cancellation of Mexican rounds
• 23 Apr.
  • Duran aims to maintain Mexico form
  • Lola could open doors to F1 for Carroll

Homepage