Drivers nominated for Laureus awards

Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso have been nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards. In the Sportsman of the Year category Ferrari driver Schumacher, who won the accolade in 2002, is up against Lance Armstrong (cycling), Roger Federer (tennis), Michael Phelps (swimming) Valentino Rossi (MotoGP) and Jonny Wilkinson (ruby union).

Renault driver Alonso, who took his first pole position, first podium finish and first win in 2003, is nominated in the Newcomer of the Year category, along with Ben Curtis (golf), Lebron James (basketball), Robinho (football), Maria Sharapova (tennis) and Michelle Wie (golf).

Ferrari has been put forward for Team of the Year and Alex Zanardi in the Comeback of the Year category. Zanardi, who lost both legs in an accident at a CART race in Lausitz in 2001, returned to racing last year in the European Touring Car series. He finished seventh at Monza in October in a specially modified car.