Prost in bullish mood at AP04 launch

Prost said it was realistic to believe his team would be battling for fourth in the constructors championship this year after the Guyancourt-based outfit finished last overall in 2000, a season the four-time world champion described as the "worst of his career."

The AP04 was unveiled in the Albert Park pit lane, but first broke cover almost six weeks ago and has completed a full winter testing programme in the hands of drivers Jean Alesi and Gaston Mazzacane. But the team has shunned the traditional off-season launch and instead chose to unveil its 2001 livery in the pit lane at Albert Park.

After the disaster of last year's association with Peugeot, Prost has secured a supply of last year's title-winning Ferrari V10 engine for 2001.

"I really believe we can compete with the likes of Benetton and BAR for fourth in the championship and can realistically expect to be finishing in the top six and getting points," said Prost.

"But my main aim is to get the credibility back that we lost last year," he added. "We expected the car to be better but the performance in testing really
surprised us. I was criticised a lot last year and my motivation started to fall - but it is high again now and we have great expectations."

The Ferrari engine is to be re-named an Acer and joining the Taiwanese computer company as one of Prost's main sponsors is South American cable TV giant PSN, which switched its allegiance to Alain Prost's team after a deal to buy the Minardi team fell through.

Recruitment company Adecco will also appear on the car as will Italian dairy company Parmalat, which has strong links with the outfit's latest addition to its management team, Pedro Diniz.

The pace of the new car has been impressive during testing and Alesi set a new lap record for 2001 cars at Barcelona, albeit in full qualifying set-up. As for how quick the car is compared to its rivals, all will be revealed when first practice starts at midnight (GMT) tomorrow (Thursday).