25/04/2008 11:23

Natalie Le Clue

This weekend Formula One moves to Spain and the first European race of the season. The Spanish motto is "Plus Ultra" - meaning "further beyond" - and that is exactly what every driver will be striving for, to push further beyond the limit.

The Spanish circuit is situated just north of Barcelona and was built in 1991. The 4.6km track has a layout which caters for overtaking much to the delight of spectators. As first corners go in F1 this track is no different. The straight leads to a sharp right-handed first turn that requires heavy braking and just beyond the edge of the track a large gravel trap lies in wait to punish any mistake. Over the years the circuit has undergone several modifications to improve safety but significantly it was completely resurfaced in 2005 for the first time since the circuit opened.

F1 was never very popular in Spain, with the Spaniards choosing to focus more one two wheels than four. Enter Fernando Alonso and Spain went crazy. The rise of the popularity of F1 in Spain can be attributed, single-handedly, to the genius of Alonso. He had a rather quiet start to his F1 career, but even in a sub-standard car he was impressive. Soon afterwards he was drafted into the then Benetton team by team boss, Flavio Briatore. Briatore's latest protege was to complete the 2002 season as the test driver. The 2003 season would see him promoted to a fully-fledged racing driver, breaking a string of records throughout the season, from the youngest pole sitter to the youngest ever race winner.

Alonso's rise in F1 came at a blinding pace. One day he was in a Minardi, the next he was claiming his first victory in Hungary. At the 2005 Brazilian GP he became the youngest champion ever at 24 years and 59 day and was the man who ended the five year dominance of Michael Schumacher. The following year a much closer battle with Schumacher ensued, but once again 'El Nano', as he is known in Spain, triumphed over Schumacher and became the youngest ever double-champion in the history of F1.

In 2008 Alonso returned to the Renault team. Although the team doesn't appear to be on the pace of the front-running cars, Alonso will not be that easily deterred. Were it not for the feisty Spanish blood running through the veins of this champion, he would have given in to all the detractors of the Renault team. However, Alonso possesses many of the qualities of the famous matadors, the Spanish bull-fighters. Their goals are strikingly similar; to appear graciosa and confianza while plying their trade; graceful and confident; two qualities that form the most exquisite part of Alonso's racing.

The top three teams are separated by two points in the constructors' championship and any of these teams can leave the Spanish GP in the lead. The form book over the last couple of years suggest a close race between Ferrari and McLaren, but this year there is a third factor to be added to the mix, BMW.

Still hunting for their first victory in F1, BMW will want to get off to a good start from the first practice session and aim once again to carry the form through to Sunday's race. Ferrari will look to continue on their form, while McLaren will look to take the early psychological edge.

The Circuit de Catalunya is trickier than it looks, especially the combination from slightly uphill chicane at turn seven and eight preceding the super-fast, blind entry of turn nine. There is only one line through turns seven and eight and even with traction control it was easy to make a mistake in the chicane. This year, of course, the cars are without traction control, but the drivers will still be pushing to the absolute limit.

Kimi Raikkonen has had quite good days in Spain with a dominant victory for McLaren in 2005 being savoured in the Finn's memory bank. Hamilton will be hoping to go one better than last year and take to the top step of the podium, but there will be some pretty determined people who have exactly the same idea. Alonso should not be discounted from scoring a decent haul of points. It is after all his home race and he is revered as the national hero in Spain; surely the atmosphere around the track will buoy his hopes for a decent performance. Then again, there are 21 other guys who are looking to get in front of him. F1 is as much about psychology as it about racing. Beating a driver in his home race or a team on their home track, some say there is no greater victory.