Emerson Fittipaldi celebrates his 78th birthday, a look back at his first coronation

When, on this cold day in March 1969, Emerson Fittipaldi arrived in London from São Paulo, it would be an understatement to say that he was not expected as the messiah. Brazil simply does not exist on the world motorsport map. No international race is organized there in a country which has never produced a great champion. The rare appearances in F1 by Chico Landi, Gino Bianco, Fritz d'Orey or the Franco-Brazilian "Nano" Da Silva Ramos in the 1950s did not make their mark on history and, as a model, the young Emerson rather identifies with the late Jim Clark.

Stammering only a few words of English, he will have to adapt to the British climate, food and mentality, without the slightest relay on site. Because like a reverse Christopher Columbus, he is the first Brazilian to