Wednesday February 2nd, 2000

The first test session for the new Prost AP03 car ended after four laps yesterday, when the can experienced transmission problems. Prost and Benetton were present at Barcelona, where they began a four-days testing session.

Jean Alesi took the new Prost for a ride, right after the team launched its 2000 challenger. In spite of posting a lap time over three seconds slower than Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella, Alesi said he was pleased. "The engine is very drivable and I was impressed," Alesi said. "I think the problem is small and I am still motivated."

In the mean time, Seven Benetton continued working on reliability of the B200, with Fisichella running in the B200 and Alexander Wurz in the B199.

Yesterday's times:

Pos  Driver     Team               Time   
 1.  Wurz       Benetton-Playlife  1:23.43
 2.  Fischella  Benetton-Playlife  1:25.37
 3.  Alesi      Prost-Peugeot      1:26.99

The 1999 Barcelona lap record is 1:20.540 (R. Barrichello)