Alonso wins award

Last night in Paris, French magazine L'Automobile Magazine held its annual prizegiving. Fernando Alonso took the trophy for most promising driver. The 25th annual prizegiving for the L'Automobile Magazine awards was held yesterday at the ...

Last night in Paris, French magazine L'Automobile Magazine held its annual prizegiving. Fernando Alonso took the trophy for most promising driver.

The 25th annual prizegiving for the L'Automobile Magazine awards was held yesterday at the Automobile Club de France, near the famous Place de la Concorde. Fernando Alonso was unable to attend, but team Chairman Patrick Faure and Managing Director Flavio Briatore accepted the award for most promising young talent of the year on his behalf.

Fernando Alonso.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"Fernando deserves this award for everything he has accomplished this season, as well as for his impressive determination and qualities as a driver," declared Patrick Faure. "Furthermore, he deserves this award because he is a young man with a warm, friendly personality who has grown with our team. We are very pleased to be working with him." In conclusion: "This award also represents a certain tribute to the whole team, so thank you on behalf of Fernando and also on our behalf."

For Flavio Briatore, Fernando Alonso has something unique: "He is the youngest driver to sit on pole, and the youngest winner, in F1 history." The Italian continued: "His results benefit Renault, our image and the whole team. I also want to pay tribute to the entire team who did an exceptional job this season to produce a very competitive car."

As for Fernando himself, he also wanted to thank the magazine for this reward. "Everything that has happened this year was completely unexpected," he said. "The results were fantastic, and the media attention never diminished. Having said that, I am feeling calm about the future. I know that 2003 was only the beginning and that for Renault, the best is yet to come. This whole year has been like living a dream."