Fernando Alonso ran his first and solely Dakar Rally in 2020 earlier than returning to Components One on a full-time foundation the next yr. Whereas his pursuit of a 3rd World Championship stays his objective, he nonetheless has an itch to return to rally raid.
In an interview with the Excessive Efficiency podcast printed Sunday, Alonso mentioned the psychological facet of profession together with how he has approached his return to F1. Though at present having fun with his greatest season since 2014 as he sits third within the standings, he revealed successful the F1 title just isn’t essentially on the high of his listing since he has lots that he desires to cross off his bucket listing reminiscent of a Dakar Rally victory.
“I’ll attempt 99% Dakar once more,” started Alonso. “It’s not that the third world title is much less of a precedence—it’s a precedence, however successful Dakar at some point, it’s a excessive precedence for me as effectively. I’ll possibly have to aim that race eight, ten years or no matter till possibly at some point I get fortunate and I can battle for the win.
“But when I win in Components One, in endurance racing, and Dakar, that can really feel for me one thing particular as a driver and as an individual. These sort of challenges are in my head in the meanwhile.”
Within the midst of his sabbatical from F1, Alonso entered the 2020 Dakar Rally with Toyota Gazoo Racing; to arrange for the beginning, he entered occasions just like the Al Ula-Neom Cross-Nation Rally in Saudi Arabia and Lichtenburg 400 in South Africa, ending third total within the former. Racing a Toyota Hilux with fellow Spaniard Marc Coma as his navigator, Alonso was knocked out of total rivalry by suspension injury from hitting a rut within the floor in the course of the second stage. He was capable of proceed the rally after repairs and in any other case confirmed fast tempo that included a runner-up end in Stage #8. Alonso rolled the truck two legs later, however reached the end thirteenth within the common rating.
The beginning got here on the heels of a profitable sports activities automotive run with TGR, successful the 2018 and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans in addition to that season’s FIA World Endurance Championship. Alonso’s three years away from F1 additionally noticed him compete within the Indianapolis 500 and Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, and he received the latter in 2019.
Though his F1 obligations restrict his racing actions elsewhere, his curiosity in one other shot at Dakar just isn’t unique to himself. His Dakar team-mate and reigning champion Nasser Al-Attiyah and Dakar Rally director David Castera are amongst those that have expressed hope of a return, whereas former F1 colleague and 2022 Silk Approach Rally SSV winner Nikita Mazepin recalled Alonso telling him throughout a drivers’ parade that he want to compete in rally raids once more.
He signed a multi-year contract with Aston Martin starting 2023. Whereas phrases of the deal weren’t publicly disclosed, it locks him with the group via a minimum of 2024.
