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Newly-crowned world champion, Fernando Alonso, headed to France on Monday to pay tribute to the hard work of the 250 staff based at Renault’s factory in Viry-Chatillon.

Less than a week after celebrating with their English counterparts at Renault’s UK base in Enstone - and just a day after being feted in his hometown of Oviedo - Alonso was in good spirits.

“Thanks to you, I have had an amazing engine,” said the Spaniard, in near-perfect French. “The V10 last year and the V8 this year were fantastic. I had a super engine, a great car, and I just tried to drive to the maximum. But we won these titles first of all at Viry and Enstone, thanks to your hard work. So thank you all!”

After a final team photograph, Alonso bid farewell to the French factory for the last time. His hectic celebratory tour now over, he will enjoy a break ahead of his move to McLaren for 2007.