英语听力精选进阶版 6060（在线收听）

A young British Formula One racing driver has made history by breaking records for the best ever debut for a newcomer to the F1 drivers’ championship.

Lewis Hamilton is just 22 years old and has competed in only five F1 Grand Prix races, but is the only driver ever to finish in the top three in all five of his first races. He is also the youngest driver ever to lead the championship, breaking the record set in 1960 by Bruce McClaren.

Lewis is remarkable in other ways too. He is the first driver of Caribbean descent to compete in F1. Although he was born in Stevenage, England, his father’s parents came from the island of Grenada in the Caribbean.

His ambition and professional approach to racing from the earliest age is also the stuff of legend. He began racing go-karts at the age of six, quickly winning races and championships.

In 1995, at the age of ten, Lewis met Ron Dennis, the boss of the McClaren-Mercedes F1 racing team at an awards ceremony. Mr Dennis later said: "When I first met Lewis he was asking for my autograph. Without breaking eye contact, he told me how he was going to go about his career."

It really impressed him, and within a couple of years Lewis had joined the McClaren development programme and his journey to F1 stardom had begun.

Former F1 legends have been quick to spot the young racer’s potential. Triple world champion Niki Lauda said he had been "stunned" by Lewis’s first season in world championship competition.

Lauda, who raced in F1 for three decades, told a British newspaper that Lewis had "a clear mind to face the challenge of F1".

"It may seem absolutely amazing, but, yes, I can see Lewis winning the championship at the first attempt," said Niki Lauda.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

Formula One racing driver F1方程式赛车手

breaking records 打破纪录  

debut 首次露面

newcomer 新选手 

Grand Prix 国际汽车大奖赛

Caribbean descent 加勒比人的后裔 

lead the championship 在冠军赛中领先

go-karts 卡丁车   

stuff of legend 象神话一般的

awards ceremony 颁奖仪式       

F1 racing team F1方程式赛车队    

eye contact 双目对视     

autograph 签名

development programme 训练计划    

impressed 给…留下印象

spot the young racer’s potential 发现年轻选手的潜能    

Former F1 legends F1方程式赛事的传奇伟人 

stunned 惊讶

at the first attempt 初次尝试