Spanish driver Fernando Alonso of Renault Formula One team Tuesday was awarded with the Prince of Asturias Prize and became the youngest awardee with such recognition, local press said Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Alonso is also the first Spanish to win a Grand Prix and the youngest champion and the youngest champion in the history of Formula One (at 22), a condition which made him win the award contending with 22 other candidates.

He was born in Oviedo, Asturias, on July 29, 1981. His father Jose Luis Alonso initiated him in auto racing with a kart. At seven he won his first competition, the regional children award.

When he moved to Italy with the help of kart importer Genis Marco Traspara, he started competing to then win the world title of the discipline at 15.

He moved on to F-1 races thanks to the opportunity presented byformer Spanish driver Adrian Campos, who summoned Alonso to replace 1998 Nissan Formula champion Marc Gene.

One year later, Alonso tired a Formula One Minsrdi under intense downpour at Jerez racing track, impressing the sports director of the Italian club, Cesare Fiorio.

In 2003 Alonso became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race, at Hungaroring track, Budapest, Hungary.

Editor: Donald