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Nicolas Prost – The Next Generation

Nicolas Prost in the Renault. [Photo by FIA-Formula e]

Nicolas Prost in the Renault in Formula e racing. [Photo by FIA-Formula e]

Nicolas Prost was born on August 18, 1981. His father, 4 time World Champion Alain Prost, celebrated his birth by winning Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort 12 days later.

Without a doubt, racing is in Nicolas Prost’s blood, and he has become a champion driver in his own right. He currently divides his time racing for Rebellion Racing in the FIA-WEC series and the Renault e-dams team in the FIA Formula e championship.

Nicolas got a bit of a late start in racing, not taking up the sport until age 22, but it has been full steam ahead since then. In 2008 he won the Euroseries 3000 Championship, taking 1 win, two pole positions and earning 7 podium finishes.

He is perhaps best known to US fans for his drives for Rebellion Racing, where he won Petit Le Mans two years in a row (2012 & 2013). That most recent win at the 2013 event was most satisfying as it was the final race in the American Le Mans Series. As Nicolas told me: “America has been very good to me. Two overall wins at Petit Le Mans and a podium at Sebring.”

He has also been quite successful in the FIA-WEC series, again racing for Rebellion. They have amassed 18 wins since 2012 in the LMP-1L privateers category and Nicolas stands atop the point standings this year in the Private Teams Driver’s Trophy with one round remaining.

There is no separate World Championship for the privateer teams in the FIA-WEC series, which is a shame, since they are lumped in with the likes of Porsche and Audi for the LMP-1 championship. As Nicolas says: “The FIA-WEC is tough for us right now because the regulations do not favor the privateers.” However, he thoroughly enjoys racing for Rebellion. “Rebellion is a fantastic small team, they are like family.”

In the FIA Formula e championship, Nicolas has been doing quite well. Of last season he says: “We took the teams title, but not the drivers. Next year we hope to do both.”

And the competition in Formula e? “We know the competition will be quite fierce. We have seen the level of competition, so we know it will be a tough fight. It is one of the best championship series I have been in because the quality of the competition and the drivers is so high.”

I am looking forward to continuing to follow Nicolas Prost’s career. He is a proven winner, just like his father. The next generation has arrived.

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