Motorsport: Prost makes comeback for Renault

Damon Hill and Alain Prost dice in Williams-Renaults during the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix. Prost won the race. Photo / DPPI

Four-time Formula One World Champion Alain Prost is returning to his roots in 2012, signing up as a full-time ambassador for Renault.

Prost spent much of his early career driving Renault-powered cars, winning the French and the European Formula Renault titles in 1976 and 1977 before joining Renault's Formula One team.

He won his first Grand Prix with Renault in his home event in 1981.

Prost was called The Professor at the height of his powers, not only for his speed behind the wheel, but for his tactical ability and the way he often out-thought his rivals to victory. He became known for his ultra-smooth racing style.

His intellectual approach was in complete contrast to many of his European and Latin American rivals.

Prost won his last title in 1993, by which time he had taken the chequered flag first in 51 Grand Prix.

In recent years 57-year-old Prost has driven for Renault subsidiary Dacia in European ice-racing events with considerable success, winning the Trophy Andros last month in a Dacia Lodgy.

Throughout the year, Prost will take part as a Renault driver in sports demonstrations and also as a representative at Renault events.

"Renault's history is intimately linked to that of motorsport and I have a deep attachment to the brand, with which I achieved some of the greatest successes in my sporting career," said Prost.

Carlos Tavares, Renault's chief operating Officer, said: "We are delighted that Alain Prost has accepted the role as our brand ambassador.

"He is the best-qualified personality for talking about the progress made by Renault in the last few years on quality, technological innovation and performance."