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From CIK-FIA
Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso first drove a kart at the tender age of 3, and he quickly showed how gifted he was.
At the age of 7, Fernando won the children's Championship of the Asturias (where he was born). And he did it again the two following years, while also landing several championships in neighbouring regions!
Fernando Alonso, who comes from a modest background, was quite aware of the sacrifices made by his family but clang to his dream.
While his father was finding it more and more difficult to finance his son's races, the Spaniard Marco Genis decided to take him under his wing. He also talked about the little prodigy to Mike Wilson, who quickly saw that Alonso had something special in him.
When he was only 12, Fernando was entirely taken under the wing of Wilson and of the IAME works team, and he accumulated brilliant results: unbeatable in Spain, where he took six consecutive national crowns, he also shone at the international level, climbing on his first podium at the CIK-FIA Cadets' Rainbow Trophy in 1995.
His reputation was definitely established in 1996 when he landed the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup at Genk. One year later, on the same Belgian track, Alonso easily dominated the European ICA Championship.
He prevailed in his eight qualifying heats and the prefinal, took the best start in the final and then... did made a huge mistake! Stepping slightly too generously over a kerb on the fourth lap he was hurled out of the track. For Fernando this was a huge disillusion... But it is the kind of experience which makes a champion even stronger.
He then continued his career in Formula A (vice-European Champion in 98) then in Formula Super A (the day's top category). Alonso finally made his car debuts in 1999.
On 4 March 2001, one year and a half after participating in his last World Karting Championship, Fernando Alonso took the start of the Australian Grand Prix at the wheel of a Minardi.
Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso first drove a kart at the tender age of 3, and he quickly showed how gifted he was.
At the age of 7, Fernando won the children's Championship of the Asturias (where he was born). And he did it again the two following years, while also landing several championships in neighbouring regions!
Fernando Alonso, who comes from a modest background, was quite aware of the sacrifices made by his family but clang to his dream.
While his father was finding it more and more difficult to finance his son's races, the Spaniard Marco Genis decided to take him under his wing. He also talked about the little prodigy to Mike Wilson, who quickly saw that Alonso had something special in him.
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| Fernando Alonso leading the race in Parma, Italy. (Photo: WRi2) |
When he was only 12, Fernando was entirely taken under the wing of Wilson and of the IAME works team, and he accumulated brilliant results: unbeatable in Spain, where he took six consecutive national crowns, he also shone at the international level, climbing on his first podium at the CIK-FIA Cadets' Rainbow Trophy in 1995.
His reputation was definitely established in 1996 when he landed the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup at Genk. One year later, on the same Belgian track, Alonso easily dominated the European ICA Championship.
He prevailed in his eight qualifying heats and the prefinal, took the best start in the final and then... did made a huge mistake! Stepping slightly too generously over a kerb on the fourth lap he was hurled out of the track. For Fernando this was a huge disillusion... But it is the kind of experience which makes a champion even stronger.
He then continued his career in Formula A (vice-European Champion in 98) then in Formula Super A (the day's top category). Alonso finally made his car debuts in 1999.
On 4 March 2001, one year and a half after participating in his last World Karting Championship, Fernando Alonso took the start of the Australian Grand Prix at the wheel of a Minardi.