Graphic featuring a DART Grand Prix Formula 1 Team and the text "DART Grand Prix F1 Team" on a blue background.
We continue our journey uncovering F1 stories that are rarely found elsewhere. Over the years, we have shared the fascinating tales of teams that dreamed of reaching the grid but ultimately fell short. Our next forgotten chapter is the story of DART Grand Prix, an ambitious project that came remarkably close before its Formula 1 dream came to an end.
DART Grand Prix: Phoenix Finance
DART GP, better known as Phoenix Finance; unlike many failed teams that disappeared before reaching a Grand Prix weekend, reports suggest that the team transported its cars to Malaysian GP in 2002, hoping for a last-minute opportunity.
The dream never became reality.
The Collapse of Prost Grand Prix Created an Opportunity
The story of DART GP began after the collapse of Prost Grand Prix at the start of 2002.
Prost team was founded by four-time world champion Alain Prost; the French team entered bankruptcy after years of financial struggles.
With the team gone; its remaining assets became available for sale, reports suggest that Pheonix Finance, a British banking and investment company led by Charles NIckerson, saw an opportunity to enter F1 without building an entirely new operation from scratch.
Rather than purchasing Prost team as completed F1 team; they bought only selected assets.
At first glance; it appeared to be a clever shortcut into F1, but this decision would become the obstacle to the project.
Why the FIA Refused Their Formula 1 Entry
Reports suggest that Phoenix Finance believed it had effectively taken over Prost’s place on the F1 grid, but FIA disagreed!
Because phoenix had not acquired the entire Prost Grand Prix organization; the governing body considered it to be a completely new constructor instead of a continuation of the previous team.
Under F1 regulations at the time; every new entrant was required to pay, before being allowed to compete.
Reports differ on the issue. Some suggest Phoenix Finance was unable or unwilling to pay the required $48 million entry fee, while others argued that the company had inherited Prost Grand Prix’s F1 entry and therefore shouldn’t have been treated as a new team.
The FIA stood firm; officially rejecting the team’s application to participate in the 2002 F1 World Championship.
Were the Cars Actually Built?
The team modified two existing Prost AP04 chassis from the 2001 season; the resulting cars became as the Phoenix AP04B, sometimes also referred to as the DART AP04B.
Although they looked similar to the previous Prost cars, significant engineering work was required to make them functional with different mechanica components.
The Phoenix AP04B became one of the most unusual F1 cars ever assembled; the original Prost AP04 had been designed around Ferrari customer engines, since Phoenix no longer had access to those power units, engineers had to find another solution.
The rear section of an Arrows AX3 was adapted to fit the Prost chassis, interestingly, the AX3 wasn’t even a race car but a three seat F1 demonstration car used for passenger rides and promotional event.
Into this modified rear end went an older Hart-designed Arrows V10 engine dating back to the late 1990s.
The result was effectively a hybrid F1 car made from components originating from different teams and different seasons, it was never intended as a long-term solution, but rather a way to get onto the grid while a completely new car was being developed, the cars were pained in a simple blue color without major sponsorship branding, reflecting the project’s uncertain financial situation.
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The Journey to Malaysia
Some sources suggests, despite having no official FIA approval, the cars were packed into freight containers and shipped to the 2002 Malaysian GP at Sepang.
While some reports claim this occurred, the available sources are inconsistent and independent verification is limited. Several accounts suggest the FIA refused to allow the operation to proceed, but the exact sequence of events has never been fully confirmed.
Plans for an Entirely New Car
The AP was never intended to be Phoenix Finance’s permanent F1 car, the team hoped to introduce a completely new car later during the 2002 season.
This project was expected to evoolve from Prost’s unfinished AP04 design and would have been developed specifically for Phoenix.
However; once the FIA confirmed that the team wouldn’t be allowed to compete, development came to an end, the planned successor never progressed into a finished F1 car.
The End of the Project
Without official championship status; the project quickly lost momentum, financial backing disappeared, development stopped, and DART GP quietly faded away before ever appearing on a F1 starting grid.
However, F1 history contains many unsuccessful teams, but DART GP occupies a unique place among them.
Their unusual hybrid AP04B, assembled from Prost and Arrows components, has become one of the sport’s most fascinating ‘what if’ stories.
Although DART GP never started a F1 race, its failed attempt serves as a reminder of how difficult it has always been to join F1.
Having a car was only part of the challenge, without official approval from the FIA and the financial resources required to meet F1’s strict regulations, even the most determined projects could be stopped before reaching the starting grid!
