New Alonso museum has 'room for more trophies'

Fernando Alonso has officially inaugurated the museum that hosts his legacy, immediately declared the adjoining kart track as the 'best kart track in the world' and insisting that the display cabinets have been built with room for more silverware.

Surrounded by family, friends and personalities who have supported him during his career - including McLaren Honda racing director Eric Boullier, fellow driver Pedro de la Rosa and flamboyant former Benetton and Renault team boss Flavio Briatore as well as national and local authorities and sponsor representatives - Alonso cut the ribbon to open the new two-storey 99,000sq/m facility, which is form part of the sports facilities at La Morgal in Oviedo.

Through the Fernando Alonso Foundation, the double world champion has donated over 300 unique items to the Foundation for the Promotion of Motoring in Asturias, and the collection features all the cars - including all five Ferraris - he has driven in a career that started at the age of three. Visitors can also see some of Alonso's helmets and overalls, as well as those of his rivals, among the many displays which, despite being in the middle of a miserable season with McLaren, he insists contain room for additions to the already impressive collection of silverware.

"This is a special day for me after so many years of work and planning by my father, as well as coincidences that allowed us to find some of the things on show," he told Spanish newspaper Marca, "There's space for more trophies and I hope I'll be the one to put them in the cabinet."

However, the real headline stealer is found outside the museum complex, as Alonso also presented a brand new karting circuit, featuring a layout he designed himself to feature some of his favourite corners, including the 'S' of Suzuka, the last corner at Valencia, the Parma chicane and the first corner of the Jarama circuit. The circuit has been designed to offer 29 different layouts with lengths varying between 1400 and 1800 metres.

The main course can be divided into three sub-courses of either 721, 637 and 372 metres to facilitate training and is certified for hosting international competitions in accordance with FIA International Karting Commission standards.

The circuit also features a dedicated course for driving education, a paddock area, pits, changing rooms and medical centre and Alonso - who said he believes "this is the best go-kart track in the world" and admitted that he would be delighted if a future F1 world champion was discovered there - announced that the first international karting campus will be held in late July for children aged between 8-11 years old, coming from different countries including Spain, UAE, Switzerland and Mexico.

"For me, having a karting track where kids can pursue the same dream as me without worrying about making a living from it or travelling around the world, makes me very happy," Alonso said, "I've never raced on a track like this so I have no hesitation in saying it's the best in the world.

"We have to offer the best to the best, so they have fewer obstacles to overcome. Whenever a great talent comes along, one that is outstanding, we need to help them on their way, not hold them back. Facilities like these make people happy. I never thought about getting into F1, I was just happy every time I got into a kart, even though it was in a car park - that was the main motivation for doing it..."