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Alain Prost. Author MEDEF

Top 10 Cool Facts about Alain Prost

Alain Marie Pascal Prost is a French retired racing driver and Formula One team owner. He was born on 24th February 1955 in the commune of Lorette near the town of Saint-Chamond, in the department of the Loire close to Saint-Etienne, France. His father was Andre Prost and Marie-Rose Karatchian, who were born in France of Armenian descent.

Alain had one younger brother called Daniel who passed away of cancer in September 1986. Prost was shot as he stood at 1.67 metres but was active and an athletic child.

He enthusiastically took part in several sports including wrestling, roller skating and football. Participating in these activities made him break his nose several times.

Alain considered careers as a gym instructor or a professional footballer before he tried kart racing at the age of 14 while on holiday. Kart racing immediately became his career of choice.

Alain Prost is a four-time Formula One Drivers’ Champion from 1987 to 2001. He held the record for most Grand Prix victories until Michael Schumacher surpassed the 51 victories at the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix.

Prost received the World Sports Award of the Century in the motor sport category in 1999. Here are the top 10 Cool Facts about Alain Prost;

1. Alain had an Interest in Other Sports that got him Injured Several Times

Growing up as a young boy, Alain Prost was not that tall as he stood at 1.67 metres. However, his short physique did not hold him back from being enthusiastic about sports.

Alain was more interested in wrestling, roller skating and football. These sporting activities were not the best for such a short young boy. He broke his nose on several occasions while participating in these activities.

2. He Developed an Interest in Sporting at a Tender Age

Alain Prost – Spa 1989.McLaren-Honda. Second. (scan dialogue ). Author madagascarica

At the age of 14, Alain Prost was on a family vacation where he developed a new interest. Alain decided to try kart racing which he got more interest in and became passionate about.

His interest in karting progressed as he went ahead and went through motor sport’s junior ranks. Alain won the French and European Formula Three championships.

He later joined the McLaren Formula One team in 1980 at the tender age of twenty-four. Alain finished in the points on his Formula One debut at the San Martin Autodrome in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He got the victory at his home Grand Prix in France a year later while driving for the factory Renault team.

3. Prost Left School to become a Full-time Racer

Alain Prost – Williams FW15C at the 1993 British Grand Prix.Author Martin Lee.

Alain went ahead and participated in several karting championships in his teens. He won several awards and titles during his teenhood earning him more fame and glory.

In 1974, Alain Prost made a great decision about his life. He decided to leave school to become a full-time racer. Alain supported himself by tuning engines and becoming a kart distributor.

Prost participated in the 1975 French senior karting championship. He won this challenge and got a nod to join Formula Renault for a season. In category, Alain won the title and all races except one in 1976.

4. Prost and his Family Relocated to Switzerland after his Property was Burnt

Alain Prost became the racer of Renault living in France. He won a couple of trophies until April 1983.

Alain and his family had to move from France to Sainte-Croix in Switzerland and shortly to Yens. The relocation was a result of an attack on his family’s house in France.

Renault workers had launched an attack on the house of the Posts in France. They burned his Mercedes-Benz and another one of his road cars making him decide to move to Switzerland.

5. Alain used Helmets of Different Unique Designs

Alain Prost’s 1988 helmet. Author Morio.

During his racing career, Alain Prost always looked unique in how he turned up for the races. He wore helmets made with different types of designs in various groups he participated in.

Alain used a helmet design based on three colours of the French flag, blue, white and red with his name along. In his early life, Alain used a basic design of white all over with blue detail around the visor.

While at Renault, Alain Prost used more blue details most notably around the rear of his helmet. He changed it in 1985 with the blue detail around the front surrounding the visor and a white ring with red lines surrounding the top.

Alain kept a similar design at Ferrari and Williams. In 2007, Alain used his original design with the circle top all red and a red line in the lower chin area. In 2010, Alain used a pearl white helmet with silver flames and a blue-white-red-white-blue stripe on the visor.

6. He Raced for Four Racing Teams in his Career

Alain Prost’s racing career was a remarkable one and more interesting to follow up. He began his career with the McLaren Formula One racing as their driver.

Prost was the driver of McLaren for several years before switching to Renault. However, he decided to return to McLaren after some disagreement.

Alain Prost also raced for Ferrari and Williams. His career was more remarkable with the wins he earned for all these top racing teams.

7. Prost became a TV Pundit, a PR Man and Technical Advisor

Alain Prost during the photocall of the 2012 international automobile festival. Author Thesupermat.

Other than being a racing driver, Alain Prost participated in several other activities post-racing. Between 1994 and 1995, Alain worked as a TV pundit for the French TV channel TF1.

Alain Prost also worked for Renault as a PR man. He also went back to his old team McLaren where he worked as a technical adviser.

8. Alain Competed in an Annual Bike Race finishing 42nd Overall

Prost has always been an enthusiast for other sports rather than racing only. He competed in L’Etape du Tour. This is an annual mass-participation bike ride that takes place on the Tour de France stage.

The competition is not an official race but riders fight hard for the top places. Alain finished in the 12th position in his category and 42nd overall out of over five thousand riders.

9. One of Alain’s Son Raced in Formula E

Alain Prost was previously married to Anne-Marie. The couple divorced some time later. They had two sons, Nicolas who was born on 18th August 1981 and Sacha Prost born on 30th May 1990.

Nicolas Prost also had a passion for racing. Between 2014 to 2018, Nicolas raced in Formula E for e.adams Renault. This team is partially run by his father. Alain also has a daughter from his relationship with Bernadette Cottin.

10. Alain Won Several Awards and held Multiple Records in his Career

As a professional racing driver, Alain Prost won several awards with the different teams he presented. He is a four-time Formula One Drivers Champion who held the record for most Grand Prix victories.

Alain also received the World Sports Award of the Century in the motor sport category in 1999. He also holds over twenty awards and accolades in his career.