- FORMULA 1 IN SPAIN -

HOW A GOOD RACING-DRIVER HAS TURNED F1 INTO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SPORTS IN SPAIN.

- INDEX -

• Introduction

• Formula 1

• F1 Regulations

• Teams and Racing-drivers (slide + newspaper page)

• Biography of Fernando Alonso

• Grand Prix of Montmeló (newspaper map)

• Last Classifications

INTRODUCTION

Formula 1 has turned into one of the most important sports in Spain since a young man called Fernando Alonso has shown us he is one of the best racing-drivers in the world.

In F1 history, we have never seen a Spaniard as the World Champion. Spain has taken part of 26 Grand Prix (GP) all over F1 history but a Spaniard driver has never celebrated its victory. This fact could change this year because of the good understanding between Fernando Alonso and his motor-racing team Renault. In addition, the best racing-driver Michael Schumacher and the best motor-racing team Ferrari are not in one of their best moments. If we combine these facts, we may think 2005 will be the year Fernando Alonso and Renault make their wishes come true.

Now, we are going to see the most important aspects of F1 such as the regulations, the motor-racing teams and drivers and the classifications. Moreover, we analyze the last Montmeló GP and also a brief biography of Fernando Alonso.

FORMULA 1

Formula 1 is based on 19 GPs in different places all over the world. In each GP, the drivers do a number of laps which depends on the circuit length. There are 10 different motor-racing teams and in every GP two official racing-drivers represent them.

In Formula 1, there are two different titles to win: the racing-driver title and the constructors' title. Depending on the GP classification the driver gets a exact amount of points. Only the first 8 qualified drivers get points. The points are given out as it is:

• The winner of the GP gets10 points.

• The 2nd qualified gets 8 points.

• The 3rd qualified gets 6 points.

• The 4th qualified gets 5 points.

• The 5th qualified gets 4 points.

• The 6th qualified gets 3 points

• The 7th qualified gets 2 points

• The 8th qualified gets 1 point.

The constructors' title is won by the team which gets more points. Every team adds their driver's points and depending on drivers position in every GP they get more or less points. For instance, if we want to know the exact amount of points Renault has, we only have to add Fernando Alonso's points and Giancarlo Fisichella's points.

F1 RULES

This year, new F1 regulations were imposed in order to reduce team costs and to oblige teams do research into new engines which use less petrol or find more aerodynamic car models. Also, in order to reduce speed's cars to avoid accidents.

I am going to name only the most important new rules due to its extend.

First of all, the FIA (International Automobile Federation) has changed the classification system necessary to decide the position of every driver. Now, the GP takes this way:

- Fridays: Free Trainings

Two training series where cars get ready to compete. The six worst 2004 teams are able to use one more car (three) to improve them.

- Saturdays: 1st series of Official trainings

There are two more free series of trainings. After that, they have the first official session of classification. Depending on the results, racing drivers take one or other position to the Grand Prix.

- Sundays: 2nd series of official trainings.

Racing drivers start it in inverse order as the first classification. The total of both results will decide the pole position and the position of every racing-driver.

-Sundays: The GP

Only four hours after the 2nd classification, racing-drivers carry out the race.

Other important changes we should take into account are the following:

- The 15 minutes of extra-training before every GP are removed. This training was used to choose a particular sort of tyres which depends on the weather conditions. Now, the driver chooses it in the 2nd session of official trainings.

- It is completely forbidden to use any system which detects the exit signal in the race.

- The use of the same tyre kits since the 1st Official Training on Saturdays until the Race on Sundays. It is not allowed to change tyres unless punctures or anything which affects driver's security.

• The drivers should fill their petrol tanks with the exact amount of petrol they want because it is not possible to put gasoline before race.

• An engine should be used during two GPs. If it suffers from any breakdown before the classification, the driver will lose 10 positions. If you need to change the engine during the race, the driver will get the last position.

• Before Saturdays series of trainings, drivers must choose one tyre kit to the rest of the weekend. Three tyres kits will be available to use in that GP: one kit on Saturdays trainings, the sencond one to the classification and the race and the last one as a reserve in case that drivers suffer from any punctures.

BIOGRAPHY OF FERNANDO ALONSO

His full name is Fernando Alonso Diaz. He was born 29th July 1981 in Oviedo (Asturias). His official residence is in Oxford as Renault central office, although whenever he can he goes to Oviedo.

He loves all kind of sports especially cycling, football, tennis and swimming. His favourite team is Real Madrid F.C. and his favourite dishes are “Asturian guises” and pasta. He spends his free time going to the cinema (watching horror films) and also reading.

According to his relatives, he is a very self-confident man with a strong personality and a natural talent that helps him to be one of the best F1 drivers. Although he seems a very serious person at the circuit, he is very funny and a joker person with a charisma which makes people adores him.

He is known as Nano at home, as Magic between his rivals and as Toro in the newspapers because of his 71kgs and 171cm.

If we have a look at the last news in glossies, we can think he is single. Moreover, it is said he has just broken up his relationship with his girlfriend Rebbeca.

HIS HISTORY

Before starting with F1, he had been going karts since 1984, when Fernando was only 3 years old. His father loves go-kart racing, so he instilled this enthusiasm to his children: Lorena and Fernando. Fernando was the only one who inherited the love for racing kart.

At eight, he went outside Asturias to win the Galician championship, as well as the Asturian, in the junior class. In 1990, he triumphed again in Asturias and Navarre, this time in the cadet class. In 1991, he took part of the Junior Spain Championship getting the 2nd position. From that moment, he showed some skill and his father started to see his hopes fulfilled. He came second in the Spanish championship at the Santos de la Humosa circuit, between Guadalajara and Madrid, fighting against Antonio García and Santiago Porteiro. He could not compete abroad because of the high costs.

Fernando was not only a prodigy behind the wheel, but he also got good marks at his school, Santo Ángel de la Guarda, which meant that his mother raised no objections to father and son going from circuit to circuit every weekend.

In 1992, he raced in the 100cc class, with special permission from the Federation, since he should still have been competing in the cadets at that age.

He took the definitive step in this part of his sporting life when competing in a race in Mora de Ebro (Tarragona) in 1993.

Between 1993 and 1995 he won the Junior Spain championship and was called High-Level sportsman in Spain after getting the third position of the World Championship. In 1996 he finally won it. In 1999, he jumped to European competitions and got the first position in the Euro Open Movistar.

He arrives at Formula 1 in 2000, at the age of 19 as Minardi tester and as a driver in Formula 3000. Due to his good results, he got the 6th position in Austria, a 2nd position in Hungary and he become winner in Belgium, teams such as Ferrari and Benetton ask for him.

In 2001, being a Renault driver, he made his debut in F1 defending the colours of Minardi, where he shared team with Tarso Marques. His great actuations with that limited car model made Renault reclaimed him as a tester car in 2002.

After a year as a tester car, in 2003 he becomes official racing-driver of Renault, where he confronted his 2nd season in F1.

The good results of the Asturian driver in 2003 were impressive: he won his first world championship in Hungary GP and he ended the championship in 6th position. In 2004 season, he started with good results getting the 3rd position in Melbourne GP. However, he had to wait until Magny Cours GP to mount the winners' podium. Unluckily, he was not able to get any victory in 2004.

In 2005 season, Alonso has a better model car, R25, which has overcome all expectations. A better car adding with Fernando's capacity make all of us wait a possible victory.

GRAND PRIX OF MONTMELÓ

This is the 5th Grand Prix of 2005 season. It is 4627 m length with 66 laps. It has a capacity of 104000 spectators. It has 11 bends being the worst ones the 3rd (Renault bend) and the 9th bend (Sabadell Bank bend) and the best one the 11th bend called “New Holland Bend”. (We can see them in the next map).

It is famous for having one of the best organizations of all Formula 1 circuits. It is used to being a clear indicative of the Driver Championship: who wins in Montmeló usually controls the rest of the World Championship. It has a technique and fast tracing as well as good installations and an efficient organization. On the other hand, it has some disadvantages. For instance, it is almost impossible to overtake other cars and also car tyres suffer from overheating.

This circuit of scanty creation is one of the most popular with the racing-drivers of formula one since the majority of them use it to training during the winter.

In this Montmeló GP, Bar-Honda team could not participate because of its punishment for weight less than the rules say and due to having an extra petrol tank which, of course, is illegal. For that reason, the FIA (International Automobile Federation) punishes them not allowing them to participate in two GP (Montmeló GP and Monaco GP).

Ferrari was not in luck because their main driver, Michael Schumacher had two punctures and he had to remove the GP. In addition, Rubens Barrichello did not get any point because of its nine position.

Renault was a bit of luck when Fernando could repair its blister in his right back tyre, problem which made him go slower so he could not overtake Raikkonnen. Moreover, Giancarlo Fisichella, the 2nd Renault driver, got a good position, the 5th one, winning 4 points to his team.

This is the race classification with include the pole position classification:

LAST RESULTS

After Montmeló GP the results are the next:

2005 DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

2005 CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP