The Andros Trophy ice racing championship starts December 4 and legendary racer Alain Prost is returning for another winter behind the wheel of a modified Dacia Duster.

Prost, who retired from Formula One racing in 1993, is piloting a Romanian-built crossover for the second time having last won the trophy driving a Toyota Auris in 2008.

"My objective is to win the Trophée Andros with Dacia," said Prost. "But whatever the result we achieve, I would like to obtain it with panache." Panache, and a car that's much improved over last year's.

Like all cars competing the Trophy, Prost's Dacia Duster Ice must look like a production vehicle while meeting strict regulations: a tubular chassis, four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, a three liter 340hp V6, a six-speed gearbox and Continental Ice Racing Contact 3 tires. Also unlike the run-of-the-mill Duster, the Ice features a fiberglass body.

The new car's V6 has been retuned for low-end torque, the four-wheel steering has been recalibrated and the suspension has also been updated. Prost said that in trial runs, the car handles much better than last year's Duster Ice especially "when track conditions deteriorate and ruts begin to form."

The Andros Trophy runs throughout the winter with a super-final near Paris on March 5, 2011. Always looking out for the fans, Prost said that he'd like to clinch a third title at the end of the final race, because "that would mean that the season has been very close and exciting."

Photo: Dacia