Full house to greet Alonso in home grand prix

Fernando Alonso's spectacular start to the Formula One season has ensured that a record 115,000 fans will attend the Circuit de Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix on May 8, race organisers said.

Circuit director Fidel Sust said that he expected more than 300,000 fans to visit the track from the opening of the pit lane on Thursday through to Sunday's race.

He added that for the first time more than half the fans would be Spanish, many travelling from Alonso's home region of Asturias in the north.

After three wins in the first four races of the season, Alonso leads the world championship with 36 points, 18 ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and 26 ahead of Renault team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari.