Fernando Alonso, a Spanish World Champion

Fernando Alonso was born in Oveido in Northern Spain on 29th. July 1981. He was fortunate to be born to hard working parents who were willing and happy to devote their time and attention to developing the skills he showed from a very early age that would eventually lead to him becoming a Formula 1 World Champion.

His father, an explosives expert called José Luis Alonso, dreamt of go-kart racing and tried to pass on his enthusiasm to his daughter, Lorena, five years Fernando Alonso’s senior. He made her a cart himself and at the age of 8 entered her into competitions.

However she did not take to the world of speed and the experiment fell by the wayside. As a result, at three years of age, Fernando "inherited" the go-kart and thus history was made.

Due to his size it was necessary to adapt some of the pedals but right from the start Alonso showed some skill and his father started to see his dreams fulfilled. To begin with of course it was just a game but from the early age of 5 or 6 he started to outshine the other children and at 7 years old Fernando Alonso gained his first victory in Pola de Laviana, it was his first entry into a junior race and he took the title, having won all 8 races.

Father and son spent every weekend going from race circuit to race circuit. They went round all the village fiestas that held a race and helped to build the circuits with bales of straw. At 8 he went outside his home province of Asturias for the first time and won the Galician championship as well. In 1990 he again took the Asturias title along with Navarre. However in 1991 things started to get a little out of hand as trips to Madrid and other provinces were continuous and expenses were escalating beyond those which the family could reasonably afford. Fernando Alonso has always been very aware and appreciative of the help and support given to him by all of his family from his sister to his grandmother and not least of course his mother and father and the sacrifices they had to make. They approached many official bodies and companies for sponsorship but received no help at all.

Then his break came when, at less than 12 years of age, whilst competing in the Catalan Championship at Mora de Ebra, he was spotted by Genis Marcó of Genikart who gave him a test. He won the race without giving anyone else a chance and from then Marcó said he would compete in the Spanish championship with them. Although the financial and other support was welcomed by the family it did mean that in some ways they felt they lost Fernando at that point, particularly as his father no longer acted as his mechanic. From 1995 IAME, the Ferrari of go-kart racing, and Marcó took charge of the traveling and most other arrangements which really left little for José Luis Alonso, but this was inevitable if Fernando Alonso was to be able to properly pursue a career in motor racing.

From then on he competed in many many races, winning most of them and building up much valuable experience. His break into Formula 1 motor racing came at Jerez where test were being carried out and Fernando Alonso, along with some other unknown drivers, were given the opportunity to show their stuff. Alonso outshone all the others and created a great impression. As a result Gabriele Rumi offered him a 10 year contract at the behest of Cesare Fiorio, ex-sporting director of Lancia, Ferrari,Ligier, Prost and Minardi who said of Alonso, "In 40 years I have had over 300 drivers and I have never seen one like this. He is one of the drivers that comes up every 10 years. There have been the eras of Schumacher, Prost, Senna and Piquet and he is a sure contender for stardom in Formula 1 over the next 10 years." He maintains that in all of his 40 years of managing drivers he has never seen a talent like Fernando Alonso.

His 2003 entry into Formula 1 racing saw him win the Hungarian Grand Prix and also take one second and two third places for Renault. In 2004 he built on his experience and achieved 1 second and 3 thirds but 2005 was his year. He took 5 first places, 4 seconds, 3 thirds and just 1 fourth. This of course won him the Formula 1 world championship and also the Constructors Championship for Renault. In 2006 he went from strength to strength taking 7 firsts,7 seconds and 2 fifths and then became Formula 1 World Champion for the second year running.

His win in Hungary in 2003 was remarkable as Fernando Alonso at 22 years and 16 days become the youngest Formula 1 driver to win a Grand Prix. Until then the title had been held by Bruce McLaren since 1959 when he won the U.S.A. Grand Prix at 22 years and 104 days.

Despite all the fame and world acclaim, not to mention all the adoration he receives from his Spanish fans, Feranando Alonso has remained a modest and relatively quiet man who tries to lead a normal life despite all the incredible pressure. He has the ability to "close the door" and switch off and is a very cool person who unlike the vast majority of Spaniards does not show his emotions in an excessive way. It is this side of his character that has helped him to dedicate himself to the motor-racing sport he loves and has given him the ability to become a true champion.

From then on he competed in many many races, winning most of them and building up much valuable experience. His break into Formula 1 motor racing came at Jerez where test were being carried out and Fernando Alonso, along with some other unknown drivers, were given the opportunity to show their stuff. Alonso outshone all the others and created a great impression. As a result Gabriele Rumi offered him a 10 year contract at the behest of Cesare Fiorio, ex-sporting director of Lancia, Ferrari,Ligier, Prost and Minardi who said of Alonso, "In 40 years I have had over 300 drivers and I have never seen one like this. He is one of the drivers that comes up every 10 years. There have been the eras of Schumacher, Prost, Senna and Piquet and he is a sure contender for stardom in Formula 1 over the next 10 years." He maintains that in all of his 40 years of managing drivers he has never seen a talent like Fernando Alonso.

His 2003 entry into Formula 1 racing saw him win the Hungarian Grand Prix and also take one second and two third places for Renault. In 2004 he built on his experience and achieved 1 second and 3 thirds but 2005 was his year. He took 5 first places, 4 seconds, 3 thirds and just 1 fourth. This of course won him the Formula 1 world championship and also the Constructors Championship for Renault. In 2006 he went from strength to strength taking 7 firsts,7 seconds and 2 fifths and then became Formula 1 World Champion for the second year running.

His win in Hungary in 2003 was remarkable as Fernando Alonso at 22 years and 16 days become the youngest Formula 1 driver to win a Grand Prix. Until then the title had been held by Bruce McLaren since 1959 when he won the U.S.A. Grand Prix at 22 years and 104 days.

Despite all the fame and world acclaim, not to mention all the adoration he receives from his Spanish fans, Feranando Alonso has remained a modest and relatively quiet man who tries to lead a normal life despite all the incredible pressure. He has the ability to "close the door" and switch off and is a very cool person who unlike the vast majority of Spaniards does not show his emotions in an excessive way. It is this side of his character that has helped him to dedicate himself to the motor-racing sport he loves and has given him the ability to become a true champion.

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