Alonso beats Schumi one last time: 2006 Autosport Awards announced
Autosport claims its 2006 Autosport Awards is motor sport's biggest night of the year. We won't touch that claim, but we will bring you some of the more interesting award recipients. Perhaps the most controversial one is the award for International Racing Driver. Dubbed as the last showdown between the god-like Michael Schumacher who has since retired from racing and the brash, young Fernando Alonso, the award was given to Alonso, which seemed only fitting since the Spaniard nabbed the F1 Driver's Championship from Schumacher at the tail end of the Ferrari pilot's final season of racing. The Pioneering and Innovation Award was given to the diesel-powered Audi R10 that dominated the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series, despite the latter organizers' attempts to hold back Audi's pair of oil burners in the face of competition that just couldn't keep up. The R10, however, did not win the Racing Car of the Year Award, which went to Fernando Alonso's ride, the Renault R26. The Rally Car of the Year Award likewise went to the ride that captured that sport's Manufacturer's Championship, the Ford Focus. Follow the Read link to see what other awards were presented and who walked away with honors at the 2006 Autosport Awards.
[Source: Autosport]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Schumann 7:27PM (12/04/2006)
The Brits (press) typically don't like German racecar drivers, cars or even Italian cars. This would have been easy to predict ... although giving the best car award to the French Renault has to be a mite surprising :)
We all know Schumacher is the best, this whole 'biggest night of the year' hoop-la notwithstanding!
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Mike 10:23PM (12/04/2006)
Yep, now all Alonso needs to do is try to match all of Michael's million other achievements. I can't wait to see how great this guy does once he's put in a slower less reliable car like the Mclaren. It's pretty ironic since the reason why he won this year was because of Michael's and Kimi's bad luck (poor reliability) and now he's switching sides and he will be the one in the mclaren. It's just perfect.
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chewy 2:36AM (12/05/2006)
Go Audi R10 TDI. Still undefeated.
I want to see Alonso race in the McLaren next year, this year Renault was much stronger, he might struggle.
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John 3:18AM (12/05/2006)
Mike,
First, Alonso had his fair share of reliability issues as well; you'd know if you kept up with F1. Second, reliability and luck are two VERY DIFFERENT words, you should look them up in the dictionary.
It might seem disappointing for MSC not to go out in full glory (F1 Championship, garnering awards here and there); but believe me, he has truly made an impact on the sport-he has become a legend of the sport. It's time to move on and see what the new talents of F1 have to deliver. As for Kimi, this year, he probably wasn't trying very hard. He just wanted it to be over, he'll be racing for Ferrari next year. I'm really excited about the 2007 season, hopefully it will be more competitive. Fernando, Kimi, Masa, Hamilton; it will be good.
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amp 8:02AM (12/05/2006)
This was for driver of the year, not the decade. If it were for the past ten years, Michael would have won hands-down of course. Even if it was a dead heat between these two, I would have given the nod to Alonso. At least he didn't block the last corner on the last lap of qualifying at Monaco.
MS...such a talented driver, but he can be a real ass sometimes.
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Elena 12:39PM (12/05/2006)
"MS...such a talented driver, but he can be a real ass sometimes."
Sounds like Ferdy =P
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Msanok 4:18PM (12/05/2006)
I'm surprised that Hamilton got rookie of the year, I was beating on kubica taking that award as he really surprised everyone in Italy by finishing 3rd in just 3 races.
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