Fernando Alonso took to the streets of his home town in Oviedo, Spain to demonstrate a Renault R28 for his adoring fans.
It’s safe to assume no-one pointed out the R28 was the same car he won last year’s Singapore Grand Prix in…
The twice-champion, who was commemorated with a new street named after him, also drove one of his own brand of karts plus a Renault Megane Trophy race car. Here are some pictures and video from the event.
Lots of footage has already started to appear on YouTube and other sites. During the event Alonso took a camera from a fan and used it to film as he drove along – it would be great to see that footage so if anyone can find it, please post a link below.
And if you were at the roadshow and have pictures and video of your own to share, please upload them to the F1 Fanantic drop.io.
Fernando Alonso Renault Oviedo roadshow pictures
Fernando Alonso Renault Oviedo roadshow video
Images (C) Renault/LAT
IDR
6th September 2009, 11:25
No, Keith I’m afraid it’s not safe. The first thing Lobato (Alonso “boyfriend”) said when La Sexta started the TV programme was something like:
“We are going to watch Fernando driving the R28, the same car with he won Singapore GP last year”
Was a very nice event. Fernando was making donuts driving a kart with the keens meanwhile he was taking photos with a Fan’s camera.
A happy day for him and for all Oviedo aficionados.
IDR
6th September 2009, 11:28
Great pics, as always (I forgot to tell you)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 11:33
LOL! Were you there then?
IDR
6th September 2009, 11:37
No Keith, just watching it at TV, and it’s 100% true!
mp4-19b
6th September 2009, 11:46
I want to know who gets more attention in Spain. Nadal or Alonso?
IDR
6th September 2009, 12:02
Nadal.
And Gisele Bundchen over both…
Becken
6th September 2009, 14:41
Why Gisele?
Terry Fabulous
6th September 2009, 23:33
http://www.reelmovienews.com/2008/04/gisele-bundchen-to-star-in-austin-powers-4/
that is why!
sumedh
6th September 2009, 11:51
Is it the 2008 car but in the 2009 livery?
mp4-19b
6th September 2009, 12:00
Yep. Horrible looking. the Mild Seven livery was fantastic. It symbolized Renault for me.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 17:05
I didn’t like the Mild Seven one either – the hodge-podge blue-yellow never worked in my eyes.
I preferred the yellow/black of the seventies and eighties. They did a version of a modern car in that style of livery in 2007 but sadly they never raced it. It look fantastic. Here it is:
https://www.racefans.net/2007/07/04/more-pictures-of-the-stunning-retro-renault/
mp4-19b
6th September 2009, 17:28
But it looks exactly like the buzzin hornets jordan. doesn’t it?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 21:07
It does, a bit! But nicer…
ajokay
7th September 2009, 0:03
I think the 2008 car looks quite nice in this year’s livery. The lines suit it better than 2009’s fat heffer.
Dorian
6th September 2009, 12:34
I’m with you there mp4-19b, I really liked the Mild Seven livery as well. I think the blue/yellow combination worked somehow…
Bigbadderboom
6th September 2009, 20:19
Agreed, Mild Seven Blue/Yellow was their best livery, much easier on the eyes than the new mess.
Ads21
7th September 2009, 19:51
I agree as well the mild seven of ’04 – ’06 was the best livery. It also worked perfectly as it used the same colours as the flag of Alonso’s home region. The Alonso fans would form a sea of blue and yellow everywhere they went.
Have to say i though the ’07-’08 livery was ok, but the 09 livery really doesnt suit the 08 car. Its an ugly livery so it should stay on the ugly 09 car.
James_mc
7th September 2009, 23:49
Basic problem is that ING’s colours don’t lend themselves to being aesthetically pleasing…
sumedh
6th September 2009, 13:54
yes, Mild Seven was best!!!
Last year’s was also decent.
This year’s is a fruit salad
sato113
6th September 2009, 19:53
or a McDonalds
Leaf
6th September 2009, 14:29
Bet he loves driving the R28 compared to the tank he is in this year! (Yes, I know they have been improving.)
slr
6th September 2009, 14:32
With ING pulling out of F1 next year, I hope the blue and yellow livery returns. They could use there Team Spirit logo since tobacco sponsors are not allowed.
Tiomkin
6th September 2009, 15:39
Marlborough Still sponsor Ferrari.
slr
6th September 2009, 15:58
Yes they do but, the Marlboro logo has been seen on the car in a race since China 2007.
sato113
6th September 2009, 19:55
think you mean it hasn’t been seen since then.
slr
6th September 2009, 20:11
Yes, thank you.
PJA
7th September 2009, 10:32
I liked the blue and yellow livery as well, but as the current livery shows next years colour scheme will be dictated by who they manage to get as sponsors rather than what looks good.
AJT
6th September 2009, 14:55
wow that renault race car looks pretty awesome!
AndrewT
6th September 2009, 16:44
it has some “onboard” features:
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 17:18
Doughtnutting with his feet – very cool!
Andy
6th September 2009, 17:22
Looks like they closed half the city for him to have fun
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 19:22
When McLaren wanted to celebrate Hamilton’s title they weren’t even allowed to put on a demo in Woking. And when Ferrari wanted to film that cool advert in London a year or two ago they couldn’t get permission either.I definitely prefer the Spanish attitude…
Tiomkin
6th September 2009, 20:33
Its the British stiff upper lip. Which means boring. They don’t celebrate success only failure.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 21:07
I think it’s more to do with paranoia about liability. After the (hugely popular) F1 parade in London in 2004 there were some people complaining about how fast the cars had been going and how close to the crowd they were.
pSynrg
7th September 2009, 0:56
So what! There were a few hundred thousand that thought it was awesome, me being one of them. Organisers drastically underestimated the turn out.
Tim
7th September 2009, 11:50
I’d heard it was more to do with the costs of the event rather than public safety fears – Surrey County Council were apparently happy for the event to go ahead but only if McLaren picked up the bill for policing, marshalling, road closures, etc.
Mika Hakkinen demonstrated a McLaren in Woking after his first title in 1998 and, if I remember rightly, it took place on the main roads around the commercial and shopping district of the town – no other place for it, really. The disruption was fairly substantial so presumably the cost to the council can’t have been insignificant.
A few years ago Damon Hill demonstrated a Renault F1 car in Whitehall to promote the London motor show – but that took place within an enclosed car park so no need to shut any roads.
Kershan
6th September 2009, 18:03
He kind of reminds me of the scallywags who ride those mini motorcycles and quad bikes round our local car park. … except he can actually drive.
James Mettam
6th September 2009, 18:20
Awesome video showing Alonso’s skill !
Wesley
6th September 2009, 18:36
Well,that was fun!
I’m with you guys…I love the Mild Seven livery.I usually don’t like light blue or yellow but,it worked together somehow.The retro black and yellow reminds me of the old Suzuki dirt bikes I rode as a kid.
maiesky
6th September 2009, 19:05
Wow! I missed it 2 years ago :( and yes- it is fan-tas-tic! but I have to admin I love livery of R25/26, too.
duncanuaz
6th September 2009, 19:06
he nearly hit the wall a few times. thank god they didn’t do one in piquet’s home town :-)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 19:21
Actually, they did last year!
https://www.racefans.net/2008/12/01/renault-show-visits-sao-paulo-pictures/
maiesky
6th September 2009, 19:07
By the way- I forgot to add in previous reply- it’s Oviedo, not Ovideo :)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th September 2009, 19:20
Couldn’t see where I’d mis-spelled it at first! Have changed it now.
ajokay
7th September 2009, 0:06
So, is that some kind of hyped up Megane touring car he’s driving there? Me likey very much. Is it a one-off, or do they race those?
Stealthman
7th September 2009, 15:35
To do a proper reply to your post AJ, the Renault Megane Trophy is a race series using those hyped-up Meganes. (I believe they’re creating an rFactor mod with those cars… ;))
mp4-19b
7th September 2009, 18:10
Stealthman?? Were you in hiding for too long?? ;) That Megane mod for rfac was released ages back!!
here is the Link.
Hussain
7th September 2009, 4:27
Here is the requested video of Alonso taking a camera from a fan and making a video….FANTASTIC..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyKGL8j_K80
Ponzonha
7th September 2009, 14:24
You may like the website that a local newspaper has opened with the photos taken by the crowd:
La Nueva España.
And talking about safety, I was there and I saw the concrete protections for the spectators, the police and the ambulances. I guess that when everything is planned there is no risk. However, as everybody pointed, Spain is not UK. We don’t say “Mind the gap between the train and the platform”, we assume that some stupid will insert the foot in the gap and let the rest enjoy an advice-free announce.
hollus
7th September 2009, 19:42
I did once fall between the train and the platform! All the way to my knee! But then I am spanish, how could I have known…
By the way, the turnout was 170000 and the population of Oviedo is 210000. 40000 must have been on holidays!