Gene confirmed at Prost next year

[Martin de Miguel]

El Pais the largest spanish language newspaper in the world confirmed that Prost has signed Marc Gene for the next season. There were no comments about Telefonica, but I believe that this is a very good hint.

Have you guys heard something about it somewhere else?

[Raelene]

I have heard that Pedro Diniz's father has bought 20% of the Prost team and that Pedro will be there next year.

Amazing - Pedro was 5th quickest at the USGP - GO PEDRO...

[Liz]

Maybe Diniz reads our Forum and was encouraged by how many of us actually like the way he drives. Yes he did a storming race yesterday and if he keeps it up he may even finish in the points before the year is over. And it wasn't because of attrition either, the majority of the people that fell off were no better than he is.

[kuchi]

Well I heard the broadcasters say that he had a deal to continue driving for Sauber next season so I don´t think his father or him have anything to do with Prost.

[EERO]

I think kuchi is right, Diniz is returning to Sauber.

The real question is whether this is a step up for Gene?

It will be interesting to see how the Ferrari engine performs behind a Prost. This year we couldn't tell which was worse, the engine or the chassis. The thought of a french car (other than a Renault) not being blue is a little dismaying though.

[Danielsun]

I've already thought about that possibility; the car, I think, would look rather nice if it was still primarily blue, but with, say, the airbox in Telefonica yellow.

Seeing yet another all-fluro-yellow car would be unbearable!

[garcia]

I think this is a good move for Gene. He has proven that he is a capable driver and with Ferrari powered engines underneath him next year(rumoured to power Prost next year) he should score points.

[Danielsun]

I think it's now more than simply a rumour that Ferrari engines will power the Prost cars. Yes, points will be up for grabs, but only if John Barnard designs my car...

[RIKB]

John Barnard's last few designs have been nothing to write home about!

[Chris Strange]

I have read somewhere that Diniz's father bought 20% of the Prost team. if this is true I let you guess the rest.....

[Sharky]

Well....I heard an interview with Diniz' manager and it seems that he'll stay at sauber. It's almost a done deal.

As for Gene....it makes perfect sense. Prost had to find 26 million for the engine despite losing their Gauloises sponsorship (and they'll surely lose their yahoo sponsorship as well) and being unable to sell the team to vector motorsports. Now From what I've heard Diniz' sponsorship is only worth abou 4-6 million a year which still leaves the team with a 20 million deficit. On the other hand Gene and telefonica would represent a significant income for the team.....not to mention that Gene would surely do a much better job as a driver than Diniz.

[R]

We're talking about last years Ferrari engines for Prost, right? Like the deal Sauber has had? Meaning they next year will have the engine from this year. That would be a big step upwards for Gene, providing the chassis is up to it.

I like Danielsun's colour scheme thoughts BTW, I think that would be a really beautiful car. Let's hope the Prost designers think the same way!

[Minardi fan]

Telefonica won't necessarily stick with Gene - Alonso will therefore take the second Minardi seat and he has MORE backing from Telefonica than Gene ever did.

If Gene has signed for Prost then I am very happy for him, but disappointed because I dearly wanted to see him show the world what Minardi can (hopefully) do with a good engine.

[angst]

Well, if Gene has signed for Prost, and they already have Alesi and they are forking out money for Ferrari engines next year then I can only imagine that he signed Gene on the understanding that Telefonica are to sponsor the team, or that Prost has secretlyfound another sponsor and just thinks Gene is a great driver who could go far.
I know which my money is on, and that's not to say that I don't think Gene IS a great driver who could go far(though not WDC material obviously)

[Valve Bounce]

Garcia and Chris - welcome to our forum. I can only hope that the second hand Ferrari engine will have some go.

[RussianFriend]

The main problem of client ferrary engine is that designers haven't got enough information about it before season would have ended. Therefore Prost couldn't prepare the chassis which absolutelly fits to engine. It's difficult to adapt ready chassis to ready engine, and it needs extra budget. Could Prost afford it? If not, he wins nothing with new engine.

"Prost and Ferrary" sounds very tempting for talented and young pilot like Gene. But I have a strange presentiment that it would be better for him to stay with Minardi.

[angst]

I agree with Russian Friend. With Supertech engines, a settled design staff (including Gustav Brunner) who have shown what a great chassis they can produce I think Minardi would be an infinitely better choice than Prost. But then, it's not my career is it?

[Sharky]

Both teams (Prost and Minardi) will recieve this year's engines (Arrows and benetton's current engines for minardi and ferrari's current engine for prost). Supertec....or should I say Renault, will not upgrade the supertec engine next year for whoever buys it. That was the reason Arrows dumped the engine in favour of a new deal. Taking that into account I think that it's pretty clear that, as long as the chassis lives up to the expectations, prost will have a significant advantage over minardi.

[Tristan]

Call me dumb but who's Gené replacing?? Not Heidfeld surely??? I thought he was quite good.

[Gerard]

Yes Tristan, Nick Heidfeld signed with Sauber for next year.
I now he's good, unfortunately he hasn't had the chance to show that this year. I hope he will do better in 2001.

[Liz]

Besides which Jean Alesi loathed him. And I think that carried a lot of weight with Alain.

It's anybody's guess how Gene and Alesi will get on, but I've heard Gene is pretty easygoing.

[R]

I know Alesi loathes Heidfeld, but why? They crashed at one race a little while back (can't remember which one), but that was Jean's fault! Surely that incident can't be the reason. Nick seems like a nice guy from the interviews, but of course you cannot tell from that how he behaves when he's not in front of the camera.

Maybe it's the fact that Nick's outpaced Jean on several occasions this season and that Jean doesn't like being outpaced by a newcomer! Better having Gene as a team-mate and being outpaced by someone who is not a newcomer!

[Sharky]

Well....they both crashed at France and then (or before...I can't remember) they also touched (this time it was Nick's fault)....but it seems that alesi is pretty upset because he feels that Nick sometimes blocks him and....well....Jean is a great driver but his temper.....(remember Herbert)

[Liz]

Now Autosport is saying Diniz has the Prost drive. Surely Prost isn't running three cars.

[Chris Strange]

Once again about either Prost Or Diniz at Prost next year I think actually both options are valid. The fact is Prost needs a huge amount of money in order to pay the Ferrari engines. Moreover he's just lost the Gauloise sponsorship and is about to lose the Yahoo one. So option No1: Telefonica as main sponsor meaning Gene. Option No2: Diniz's father buying Prost shares + Parmalat sponsorship thus Pedro Diniz as next year driver. Quite logical.Now make your bet....