Article - Rewritten
Spanning back to his beginnings, Fernando Alonso recalls his first set of wheels with a heartfelt nostalgia. That car wasn't a sleek Formula 1 machine or an exquisite supercar, but a humble Renault Megane. The Spanish driver fondly admitted to CNN's "The Circuit," "It was yellow, sort of golden brown." Him being 18, and gifted this vehicle, the 36-year-old racing champion claimed, "You'd be over the moon."
Although Alonso still cherishes the thrill of winning the world championships in 2005 and 2006 with Renault, the Megane doesn't hold the allure of his Formula 1 vehicles. He affirms, "There's nothing special about it. It just gets cleaned off when it rains."
Beginning his journey with racing as a young, ambitious karting champion, Alonso made his mark in Spanish Formula 3, where he was gifted this Renault Megane by sponsors. His debut in Formula 1 came in 2001, with the Italian team Minardi, but his stint with Renault, from 2005 to 2007, led to his first and only world titles.
Alonso has experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows in his career. Since joining McLaren in 2015 after his four-year run with Ferrari, things have been particularly tough. Mechanical issues have sidelined him five times this season, with his best result coming in the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he secured a sixth place finish, placing him 15th in the driver standings.
With his future in motorsports looming on the horizon, Alonso admits that he needs more than just dreams and hopes for the upcoming year. He desires concrete numbers and a definite prospect for success, especially with McLaren, with whom he claims he still has loose ends to tie up.
Curiosity has always been a driving force behind Alonso's career, as he has openly expressed his desire to explore various motorsports. While captivated by the World Rally Championship, he has dared to venture outside the realm of Formula 1. His endeavors thus far include the Indy 500, Dakar Rally, and Le Mans 24 hours, each as a part of his pursuit of the elusive Triple Crown.
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[Enrichment Data Integration: Fernando Alonso's passion for exploring various motorsports beyond Formula 1 led him to take part in the Indy 500, Dakar Rally, and Le Mans 24 hours. In his attempts at the Indy 500, he has not yet been able to win a title. In 2020, he made his debut in the Dakar Rally, and he secured back-to-back victories at Le Mans 24 hours in 2018 and 2019, aiming to complete the Triple Crown.]**
