When 'The 'Professor' put win #1 on the books

40

On this day in 1981, Alain Prost took his first victory in Formula 1, and he did it excitingly on home soil, winning the French Grand Prix at Dijon with Renault.

The race was a two-part affair, the first of which was dominated by Nelson Piquet's Brabham, until rain showers drenched the track and halted proceedings after 58 laps.

On the restart, Prost hounded Piquet and eventually wrestled his way into the lead where he remained for the remaining 21 laps.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.