FOR AUCTION:  Formula One Car

Those of you that start a Christmas wish list early may want to check out Yahoo's auctions from time to time.  Here's one item that is on the top of Nika's wish list list.  P-p-p-p-lease Santa?

Many exclusive items, including an autographed driver's helmet, Alain Prost’s signed shirt, Prost Grand Prix steering wheels, and race overalls, have already been won on Yahoo! Auctions by bidders from around the world. But this auction is special; this is the first time ever that a Formula One car will be sold online on a global scale.

Prost Grand Prix and Yahoo! are excited to offer you the chance to bid on the first of 5 AP03 chassis manufactured this season at the Prost Grand Prix factory in France. This car, a symbol of cutting edge modern technology, has been designed to reach maximum speeds, to resist the highest temperatures and gravitational forces, to brake within the shortest distances, and ultimately to enhance the passion of millions of Formula One fans.

AP03 IDENTIFICATION & TECHNICAL DATA :

Registered name : AP03-01
Date of birth : December 20th 1999
First shake down : January 27th 2000 (in Magny-Cours, France. Driven by Nick Heidfeld)
Car Launch : February 1st 2000 (in Montmelo, Spain. Driven by Jean Alesi)
Distance covered in testing : 2747 km (information valid on October 1st 2000)
Distance covered in Grand Prix : 2799 km (information valid on October 1st 2000)
Car allocation on Grand Prix :- Jean Alesi : Australia, San Marino, Spain, Monaco, Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, United States, Japan. - Nick Heidfeld : Brazil, Nurbürgring, France, Austria, Germany, Belgium. Both official drivers used this car in test sessions together with test driver Stéphane Sarrazin.
Length : 4.56 meters
Weight : 600 kg
Top speed : 350 km/h
0 to 400 meters in 9.5 sec ( reaches 275 km/h)
0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds
0 to 200 km/h in 6 seconds

Downforce equivalent to 1.500 kg @ 300 km/h excluding car weight (600 kg) Longitudinal G-force can go up to 4 Gs, Lateral G-force can go up to 3.5 Gs
Braking distance : 300 km /h to 60 km/h in 140 meters (in 3.5 seconds)
Brake disc temperature can rise to 1000° C
Engine maximum rpm : 16.400
Fuel consumption : 70 litres / 100
Power to weight ratio : 0.75 kg/bhp 

The Prost AP03 n°1 chassis is the first race car built by the team for the 2000 Championship. Driven through the Formula One circuits (see details above) by
Prost Grand Prix drivers, Frenchman Jean Alesi and young German Nick Heidfeld, it will be auctioned as a complete race car without its engine. The Prost AP03 n°1, driven by Jean Alesi at the Japanese Grand Prix (October 9th),
will make a prestigious addition to any museum or historic car collection.

The car will be auctioned in its genuine state with the steering wheel Jean Alesi used at the Japanese Grand Prix, and with all electronic, composite, and mechanical devices. Only the engine will not be included. The car will be delivered to the winner during a ceremony that will take place at our headquarters at the end of the year.

Nika's note: As of October 28th - the bid was more than $160,000 with only a day to go!!