Alonso's emergence has restarted the jaded sport's engines

I have a model of a Renault Megane Cabriole car in my house. I've had it about a year now. In the last couple of weeks I'm sure the value of it has rocketed. The reason is on the front of the box. There on the clear plastic window, in a silver scrawl, is the signature of the new Formula One world champion. It doesn't look much like his name, but trust me, it is.

I had the chance to meet Fernando Alonso last year in Singapore. He was on his way up to Malaysia for the grand prix at Sepang and was taking time out to help his employers market one of their more sedate cars. With him was Jarno Trulli, before he deserted Renault for Toyota.

Of the two, I warmed to Trulli the best. Easy going, happy to chat, he was every inch the urbane Italian. Posing for pictures with his Singaporean fans wasn't a chore.

Alonso, on the other hand, seemed much less approachable, perhaps even a tad tetchy. Promotional duties done, he was gone, and I was left a little disappointed.

I must have caught him on a bad day.

Commentators talk of his 'sense of fun' and 'boyish approachability'. His celebrations in the pit lane after clinching the title in Brazil highlighted the way the sport has been energised by an infusion of Latin enthusiasm. It sure makes a change from the Teutonic inevitability of the last goodness knows how many years.

Whatever his temperament, there's never been any doubting the young Spaniard's driving talent.