2007年VOA标准英语-Racing Fans Get Behind Britain's Lewis Hamilton

By Tendai Maphosa
London
19 July 2007

Lewis Hamilton is only 22 years old and is already making sports history as the first Black driver in Formula One racing¹, but in his rookie year he is also setting records that may take some time to beat.  Tendai Maphosa reports for VOA from London.

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton from Britain reacts during a press conference at the Nuerburgring race track, Germany, Thursday, 19 July 2007

Lewis Hamilton is only 22-years-old and is in his first year as a Formula One racing driver. 

Only halfway² through the season, he is the first Formula One driver to finish on the podium in all nine races he has driven, is the youngest driver to lead the World Championships, and is the first driver to win from the pole position in two consecutive³ races in his debut⁴ season.  He is also the first Black driver to compete in Formula One.

Hamilton's story began at age eight when he started karting.  His father Anthony held down three jobs to support his son.  The story is told that at age nine he approached MacLaren Formula One team boss Ron Dennis and told him he would race for MacLaren one day.

In Formula One, Hamilton has become the great hope of a sports mad, but success-starved British public.  The media is obsessed⁵ with him and some go as far as labeling him the new Tiger Woods.

Britain was in the grip of Hamilton mania⁶ when he raced in the British Grand Prix earlier this month.  He started from pole position and finished third.  It was a disappointment to fans, but he was upbeat about the future.

"I think it has been the best Grand Prix so far," Hamilton said. "The atmosphere has been multiplied by five in terms of intensity⁷, in terms of support it has been multiplied by 100 and it has been great to see.  When I did the parade lap and saw how many people and how many flags were out there it was awesome⁸.  Unfortunately we did not bring the win home for them this year, but I hope to come back next year and then do it for them."

The accolades⁹ have not only been from the public.  Former racing champions are also expressing their admiration¹⁰ for Hamilton.  Legendary¹¹ driver Stirling Moss¹² had this to say about the young competitor.

"He is probably the most exciting thing that has happened in my 60 years I have been connected with racing," Moss said. "He is a real racer and he is a very nice person, and there is no doubt that he is a future world champion.  First of all he does not make many mistakes.  He takes the car and drives it with great verve, rather like driving a big go-kart and there is no doubt he is exceptionally good.  It is difficult to compare drivers of different eras, particularly to compare him with people like Nuvollari and Fangio because when Nuvollari and Fangio were racing it was a very dangerous sport.  Now, of course, it is a very safe sport."

There is still a long way to go to the end of the season and Lewis Hamilton may not end up being the world champion, but he is certainly one to watch for the future.

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

3 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

4 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

5 obsessed   

adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的

参考例句：

• He's obsessed by computers. 他迷上了电脑。
• The fear of death obsessed him throughout his old life. 他晚年一直受着死亡恐惧的困扰。

6 mania   

n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好

参考例句：

• Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。
• Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。

7 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

8 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

9 accolades   

n.（连结几行谱表的）连谱号( accolade的名词复数 )；嘉奖；（窗、门上方的）桃尖拱形线脚；册封爵士的仪式（用剑面在肩上轻拍一下）

参考例句：

• Unlike other accolades for literature which tend to value style or experimentation. 有别于其他偏重风格活实验性的文学奖项。 来自互联网
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

10 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

11 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

12 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。