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Journalism of Courage
Fernando Alonso’s Canadian Grand Prix victory for Renault could hardly have been more fitting. As well as tightening the Formula One world champion’s stranglehold on the title, the Spaniard’s sixth win in nine races completed a century of success for the French car-maker.
One hundred years ago on Tuesday, on a triangular circuit run over rough public roads to the east of Le Mans, Renault won what is now recognised as the world’s first real Grand Prix motor race.
Created by the Automobile Club de France, frustrated by the existing Gordon Bennett series that allowed only one three-car team from each nation, the new race pitted individual cars against each other for a significant cash prize — a grand prix. The contrasts between then and now are evident but there are also eerie parallels.
Then, as in Montreal where Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher finished in second place, the runner-up was an Italian machine — a FIAT.
Alan Baldwin
