Jean Alesi

Jean Alesi is a French racing driver of Italian origin. His father, Franco, was a mechanic from Alcamo, Sicily, and his mother was from Riesi.

Alesi was born to Sicilian parents in Avignon, Vaucluse. Starting his career with a passion for rallying rather than racing, he took up karting at the age of 16, and then graduated to single seaters in 1984 through the French Renaultchampionship, where he raced for two seasons. He won the 1987 French Formulatitle before moving up to International Formula 3000 in 1988. The 1988 season was a disappointment, finishing tenth in the championship with two podium finishes, not helped by problems within the team. However, in 1989 he joined the Jordan Formula 3000 team and won the championship. Both crowns were after duels with his rival rik Comas. In 1989 Alesi tied on points for the F3000 title with Comas, but won the title on number of wins, having scored three to Comas two. He also raced in the Le Manshours in the same year, but a fire forced him to retire in the fourth hour of the race.

Source: Wikipedia