Symonds: 130R top Alonso moment.

Pat Symonds has singled out the battling drive by Fernando Alonso at the Japanese Grand Prix as one of his highlight of the Spaniard's title-winning season.

Rain during qualifying left Alonso down in 16th place on the grid, but he joined title rival Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher in launching a recovery drive through the field come race day.

Pat Symonds has singled out the battling drive by Fernando Alonso at the Japanese Grand Prix as one of his highlight of the Spaniard's title-winning season.

Rain during qualifying left Alonso down in 16th place on the grid, but he joined title rival Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher in launching a recovery drive through the field come race day.

While Raikkonen took the race victory, ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella, with a last-lap overtaking manoeuvre, Alonso claimed the final podium place in his first race after being confirmed as the youngest champion in Formula One history - the high point of the day being a daring move around the outside of Schumacher at one of the fastest corners on the calendar.

"I think outside of the 130R, for sure," Symonds said when asked about his favourite Alonso moment of 2005, "Not only was it such a great overtaking moment, it was so symbolic. It was the young champion passing the old champion and it meant a lot."

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