I have a hazy memory of watching Bahrain 2006.
I was too young to know exactly what was going on, but old enough to know what a Ferrari was, and old enough to be exposed to the international acclaim of Michael Schumacher.
And there he was. In front of me. Or rather, on my TV screen. One that I sat cross-legged directly in front of – practically glued to the box. Much to the annoyance of my family behind, probably.
I remember watching that iconic red car come whistling down the straight into Turn 1. The noise of those engines, the excitement of the commentators, it was all a lot to breathe in for the first time. But the cameras were interested in a different car to me. As Schumacher slowed down to attack that first winding corner of Bahrain, a slender machine of azure and yellow pulled up alongside him, having emerged from the pits. It was Fernando Alonso.
Both cars threw themselves around that curve in practically perfect sync, their inner wheels kissing through the apex. But that synchronicity didn’t last long. Much to the surprise of a young, clueless me, it was that blue car that sped ahead out of the corner – leaving the Ferrari chasing behind. Immediately I was rooting for what I thought was the underdog, as the Renault clung on to the lead despite fierce attempts by the scarlet pursuer.
As Fernando crossed the line, my status as a Renault fan was secured.
Of course that idea of supporting the ‘underdog’ swiftly turned out to not quite be the truth as I tuned in to other races that season – a season Alonso won, of course – but the specifics didn’t really matter. I’d watched an exciting driver take the fight to Michael Schumacher and win. I’d watched an exciting team take the fight to Ferrari and win. I was cemented as a fan.
I’m Will. I’ve been a fan of motorsport since that day.
It would probably be more accurate to say I’ve been a fan of racing since playing the Colin McRae rally games with my Dad on the PS1. But either way, I’ve spent most of my life with an interest in the pinnacle of it all, Formula 1.
If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a huge Team Enstone fan. For a long time now, I’ve needed a space to practice my writing and ultimately create a portfolio of articles in the years ahead. So why not make a blog about the sport I love?
The sport’s sudden surge in popularity around the time of Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’ is hard to ignore. And no matter how you feel about this new era we’re in, it’s safe to say the demand for more content surrounding F1 has skyrocketed. And once you filter through the endless clickbait-y articles reporting news that hasn’t actually happened (I won’t dare name names, but I’m sure you’ve seen them!), there’s still a big gap in the market for fan voices. Not one that I think I’ll necessarily fill, mind you. But hey, if I can add something to at least one person’s day, this small project will be worthwhile.
So welcome to The Enstone Edit. A place for me to talk about Alpine and the greater sport overall. If this gains any traction, I’d love to invite others to host their articles and opinions on here too. but for now, you’re stuck with me!
Thanks for checking this place out, and have a great day!
The Enstone Edit 