Wednesday December 8th, 2004

Former Formula One champion Alain Prost has denied a report that said he would drive an Audi at the Le Mans 24-Hour race next year.

Prost said he was already involved with Toyota in the Andros Trophy ice-racing series and that Le Mans was "too risky".

French daily L'Equipe reported on Wednesday that the Frenchman would join Oreca racing team for the Endurance race which takes place on June 18 and 19. The report said there would be two Audis racing at Le Mans next year, one of them driven by Prost.

But Hugues de Chaunac, chairman of the Oreca team, confirmed that Prost has turned down his offer to drive an Audi R8.

"Prost is not going to drive an Audi, for the time being," de Chaunac said. "He is not ready for this race."

Four-times Formula One champion Prost, who will turn 50 in February, won 51 Grands Prix during his career. Audi R8s have won four of the last five Le Mans 24-hour races.

Published at 16:30:43 GMT

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