Original sentence: A win at the Spa-Francorchamps highlighted a fourth place in the drivers championship, and Alonso was off for Formula One in 2001.As a child, Alonso and his father, who also doubled as his mechanic, participated in karting competitions around Spain.He raced in the European Karting Championship, placing second, and he was the world junior karting champion in 1996.He won three Spanish Karting Titles, in 1994, 1996 and 1997.His family lacked the economical resources needed to develop a career in motorsport, but his victories guaranteed sponsorships and the required funds.Then 18 years old, he became the series champion, immediately earning him a ticket to Formula 3000 in 2000
Edited sentence: A win at the Spa-Francorchamps highlighted a very solid fourth place in the drivers championship, and Alonso was off for Formula One in 2001.Age was never a hindrance as he easily won three Spanish Karting Titles (1994, 1996 and 1997).As a child, Alonso and his father, who also doubled as his mechanic, competed in karting competitions around Spain.He raced in the European Karting Championship, placing second, and by his mid teens he was the world junior karting champion in 1996.It was difficult to acquire sponsorships and the only way to get the financial backings was to win races, and so he did.Then only 18 years old, he became the series champion, immediately earning him a ticket to Formula 3000 in 2000.While his entire family fully supported Fernando’s increasingly successful hobby, his progress required more funding than his family’s resources could provide