There have been many great race car drivers in the history of racing, but almost none of them achieved what Michael Schumacher achieved throughout his career. A motorsports enthusiast since childhood, Schumacher, whose career spans from the late 1980s to the present, has achieved almost everything a race car driver could want: world championships, lap records, more victories , more podiums, countless awards, etc. This is why according to many experts he is one of the most important and influential sportsmen in the history of Formula 1, and perhaps also in the history of racing. Michael Schumacher's origins were as ordinary as those of any other living person. He grew up in the small town of Hurth-Hermülheim in Germany, where his father ran a small karting track where Michael and his brother Ralf, also a Formula 1 driver, drove small karts that their father built for them. Around that time, his passion for motorsports began to grow significantly even after he suffered some accidents with his small car, such as crashing into a lamppost several times. He began competing in many regional karting championships where he would win often. His parents, realizing their son's potential, arranged many endorsement deals with wealthy enthusiasts who helped young Michael rise through the ranks (Donaldson). Between 1986 and 1990 Michael won many national and European competitions, including the German and European karting championships, his greatest triumphs to date. His winning streak continued through much of the late 1980s, also winning many races in Japan and Mexico. He also managed to win the German Formula 3000 championship in 1990. This achievement attracted the attention of many Formula One team directors who saw Michael as a future Formula One star. In 1991 he tested for some Formula One teams who were impressed by Michael's speed. During one of these tests in Silverstone, England; he greatly impressed Jordan Grand Prix team principal Eddie Jordan, who at the time was looking for a driver who could replace Bertrand Gachot at the wheel of one of his cars. Michael convinced him that he would not let him down and with the help of Bernie Ecclestone (Codling and Clarkson 43) he made his Formula 1 debut at the Belgian Grand Prix that year where he shocked the whole world by delivering a great performance even though it was a newbie. Michael's long-time dream of entering Formula 1 became a reality that October.