By role
April 23 2003

Spanish motor fans have a reason to cheer. Renault and Fernando Alonso will race on the streets of Madrid on Sunday May 11th on a demonstration for the general public. The car will race in the famous Paseo de la Castellana, in the heart of Madrid, and will cover 1.500 meters before it ends a run on the Real Madrid’s stadium, Santiago Bernabeu. The main parking garage of the stadium will also be used for the exhibition in a PR party that will take approximately 2 hours.

Renault and Alonso will take off traction control in order for the young Spaniard to show his skills at the wheel and to make the exhibition more enjoyable to fans of Madrid. Fans also hope that Renault will bring a team of mechanics in order to see a pit-stop change of tires.

Madrid, capital city of Spain has a population of more than 4 million people, plus one of the highest number of tourist from around the world. Madrid is hoping to host the Olimpic Games in the year 2.012 and is fighting hard to keep their name in contention against other candidates as Paris or New York. Last time Madrid’s Circuit of Jarama hosted a F1 race was in 1981.

Formula 1 is becoming increasingly popular in Spain thanks to the efoort of Renault and Renault F1 driver Fernando Alonso, who is running 4th at the present time in the World’s Driver Championship and has been the younger driver to score a podium in the history of the sport.

On a recent fan interview for as.com Fernando Alonso declared: “Well, it will be a special day. I have never tried this type of exhibitions, and I guess that running on the streets with an F1 car and with people close to you will be a special sensation”.