After Dinner Speakers: Alain Prost, Raymond Blanc, Tim Rice

During his days behind the wheel, Alain Prost knew only success as he captured four Formula One drivers world titles. In the world of team management, however, the realities have proved to be a lot harsher, and his confidence would have been dealt another blow when Jean Alesi was granted his wish to leave the ailing team for a new career with Jordan. In a fourteen season driving career, Prost won four world championships -three with McLaren in 1985, 1986 and 1989 and then for Williams in 1993. He was second on three occasions - for Renault in 1983, with McLaren in 1988 and for Ferrari in 1990. So when he took over the Ligier team, in February 1997, and renamed it Prost Grand Prix, he had every reason to expect that the plaudits would continue.