Biography of Alain Prost, The Professor

30 September 2008

Born February 24, 1955 in Loire, France, Alain Prost is a former Formula One racecar driver. Prost is a four-time F1 Drivers' Champion, and held the record for most Grand Prix victories from 1987 until 2001 when Schumacher passed the total of 51 victories. In 1999, Prost received the World Sports Awards of the Century in the category of motor sports.

During his career, Prost competed in 202 Formula One races, starting 199. His four championships dominated the mid-80s and early 90s, winning in 85, 86, 89, and 93. Prost also held pole position 33 times, earned 106 podium finishes, and accomplished all of this in a 13-year career (1980-1993). Like the majority of successful F1 drivers, Prost honed his talent for driving at a very young age.

During a family holiday when Prost was 14-years-old, he discovered karting. Seeming to have a natural talent behind the wheel, Prost created a buzz among his age group, and proceed through the junior ranks of motor sports, winning the European and French Formula Three championships.

Prost proved himself to be a natural driver, and the McLaren Formula One team took notice in the 25-year-old Prost, and invited him to join their team in 1980. During his first Formula One race, Prost finished in the points and grabbed the attention of the racing world. A year later, now driving for Renault's factory team, Prost earned his first Grand Prix victory in France.

Prost was the third member of a tri-rivalry during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. Alongside Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, the triplets took turns on the podium's top step, and gave fans something magnificent to watch each and every racing day. During the last race of the season in 1986, Prost was able to barely squeak by Mansell and Nelson Piquet of team Williams for the title.

In 1988, Prost's fierce rival Senna joined the McLaren team, and the pair had their fair share of controversial clashes, including a famous collision at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix that ultimately gave Prost his third Drivers' Championship. A year later, Prost, now driving for Ferrari, would clash with Senna again, but lost out.

Prost's time with Ferrari was brought to an abrupt conclusion after he criticized the team's effort following a winless 1991 season. Ferrari immediately fired Prost, and the skilled driver took a break from Formula One racing. After his break, Prost returned in 1992, this time for the Williams team, which prompted the reigning Drivers' Champion Mansell to leave for the CART team.

Prost was finally given a competitive car, once again, and won the 1993 championship. In 1994, rather than race alongside newly signed rival Senna, Prost opted for retirement, shocking the racing world.

Prost would return to take over the French Ligier team in 1997, running it as Prost Grand Prix until it went bankrupt in 2001. In 2002, Prost began competing in ice racing, and has been competing in the Andros Trophy circuit since.
Tags: alain prost, ayrton senna, formula one, nigel mansell, mclaren, nelson piquet, world sports awards, williams team, french ligier, andros trophy,
Posted In: Biographies, Formula One,

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