Two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season with Toyota Gazoo Racing which will enter two hybrid-powered, 1000hp race cars as it targets victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the WEC World Championships.
The driver line-ups for the two TS050 HYBRIDs are now confirmed, with the No.7 car competing with an unchanged line-up of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López.
The No.8 TS050 HYBRID features a revised driver line-up, with Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima joined by Fernando Alonso.
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari F14-T
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.
World Endurance Championship. 6 Hours of Bahrain
19th November 2017
Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain.
The Spaniard, 36, will make his LMP1 race debut at Spa-Francorchamps in May and will compete in all rounds of the 2018-19 season which do not conflict with his existing Formula 1 obligations. He tested the LMP1 car at the end of the 2017 season in Bahrain, and has just participated in his first endurance race at Daytona. Alonso joins several high profile former F1 names to take on the challenge of endurance racing, including Mark Webber, Alex Wurz and Allan McNish.
Anthony Davidson, who won five races in 2017 alongside Sébastien and Kazuki, will remain an important member of the team, bringing his World Championship-winning experience to a new role as Reserve and Development Driver.
Two-time Le Mans winner Alex Wurz will continue as Team Advisor and Ambassador having made a significant contribution since taking the position in 2016.
Fernando Alonso: “I am very excited to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. It is a race which I have followed closely for a long time and it has always been an ambition of mine to participate. Endurance racing is a different discipline compared to single-seaters and it will be an interesting challenge. I am looking forward to working together with, and learning from, Sébastien and Kazuki, who are both very experienced endurance drivers. It will be a learning curve for me but I am ready for this challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “We are proud to welcome Fernando Alonso among us in Endurance racing. The participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans but also in the FIA World Endurance Championship, from such a champion demonstrates the challenge that our event and our discipline represents for a driver. For several years now, Fernando had shown interest in our event and the FIA World Endurance Championship. The conditions are now in place for this desire to come to fruition. Le Mans and Endurance racing will shine under the spotlight that Fernando’s presence brings, just as our race and Endurance racing will also allow Fernando’s talent to shine. ”
Gérard Neveu, General Manager of the FIA World Endurance Championship: “Welcoming Fernando Alonso for the entire 2018-2019 WEC Super Season is an immense pleasure and honour. All our fans and the great Endurance racing family are looking forward to welcoming Fernando. He is one of the greatest motorsport drivers of all time. His participation in the WEC with Toyota in LMP1 ensures a superb show. The presence of such a champion confirms the influence and attractiveness of our discipline. ”