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"Well, it all started with me wanting to see the Formula One testing in January 2009. It was my hope that the majority of the teams would launch their cars in Valencia, as they have done over the last 2 – 3 years. It was not to be but I’m not easily put off so I travelled to the Algarve Motor Park and here is a little of my experience. I hope you like it. My day started early, up at 06.30 hrs on Tuesday 21 January. I left home around 07.30 hrs to drive to Valencia Airport in order to catch a flight to Seville where I collected my hire car. I was on the road by 11.15 hrs and with the help of the young lady in the GPS guiding me I drove to Portimão. The time in Portugal is the same as UK time and I arrived around 12.30 hrs local time. On the drive down the weather had been nice and sunny but the closer I got to Portimão the wetter and colder it became. I went to collect my entrance tickets which I ordered via the internet through the official website. I had a ticket for the stands and another for the paddock, the cost was not too bad at 15 € for the main grandstand and 20 € for the paddock. I must confess this is the first, but hopefully not the last, time they sell the paddock pass because it was for sure the best!!! Initially I went to the main grandstand, which from the highest point gives a good view of around 60% of the track. The sound of the cars on track was awesome. I knew I had been missing something over the last few months! After an hour watching what was going on I decided to venture into the paddock. That was the right move for me!!! Unfortunately there were only 5 teams present at these tests. Renault with the R29, McLaren with the MP4 –24, Toyota TF109, Williams with the FW31 and Toro Rosso with the adapted 2008 STR3-04. Access to the paddock is via a tunnel. I went through and made my way to where there was a mass of parked trucks - there must have been over 40 of them, all parked neatly in a line stretching down the paddock area. The FIA had their truck, Bridgestone Tyres, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, Toro Rosso and Williams plus all the team hospitality homes. At this point I was in heaven. My problem was what to do first, there was so much to do and see. I got talking to a Renault employee and ended up having a cup of coffee in the Renault hospitality home. Pat Symonds was there giving an interview whilst other members of staff were waiting for the weather to improve. The heavens opened and we had a hail storm with really severe winds. The McLaren hospitality area was blown down and damaged. Renault were wise and moved one of their trucks to the side of their Hospitality home to protect it from the prevailing winds. Obviously there were no cars on the track now… I eventually ventured outside and across to the boxes. Everybody I met was very pleasant and I even got inside the Renault boxes. Can you believe that? Me in there with the R29! I was told I could not take pictures of the car as it was undressed (all the panels were off) and engineers were busy all over it, there must have been at least 12 of them. I could see everything, engine, gearbox, inside the cockpit, the lot. I did manage to get some pictures, but not the car. Nelson Piquet was hovering around waiting to get back out testing but the weather was still pretty bad, mainly wind and rain and the track was extremely wet. Having seen what I could I was off on the prowl, up to the spectator area above the boxes where I was able to see the pit lane, the start/finish line and the first corner and much more. Buemi from Toro Rosso went out and did some laps - but then he was not risking a new 2009 chassis. Eventually Piquet went out as did all the other drivers, each one on wet tyres and doing a number of laps. I went back down to the rear of the boxes and who should I bump in to but, yes you got it, Fernando Alonso! He agreed to a do photograph with me, which was taken by another Renault employee and we exchanged a few words. He had just finished a bike ride of over 100 km and boy does he look fit. The winter training period has obviously paid off. Whilst having another coffee in a certain motor home who should come in but Nelson. Yes, he also agreed to a do photograph with me, again taken by an obliging Renault employee. A short while later Fernando came in and there I was taking more pics. I was in a world of my own but then I usually am ! I thought the only thing left for me now was to be invited by Renault to test drive the R29, alas that did not happen. The weather worsened and the skies darkened so by late afternoon there was nothing else to do but go and find my hotel in Portimão. I hadn’t eaten all day and was very cold but extremely happy. I also know that tomorrow is going to be another exciting day before I have to start my return journey back home, I cannot wait."
Link: http://drop.io/tonyf1pics
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