Twice Formula One champion Fernando Alonso will enter his first Dakar Rally next season, piloting a Toyota Hilux and assisted by Marc Coma. In the meantime, Dakar Rally CEO David Castera gave an interview where he told us what he expected from the Spanish driver.
Alonso, who had already participated in rally raids in Africa, Marocco and Saudi Arabia and claimed the 3rd position in the overall standing at the recent Al-Ula Neom race, began his Dakar preparations in August. A couple weeks ago, he has covered 600 kilometers (375 miles) across the dunes of Abu Dhabi, UAE – his final training course before the Dakar Rally start on January 5, 2020. Alonso himself insists that he does not expect to win the championship; instead, making it to the finish line is all he aspires for.
For his own part, David Castera believes that the driver has far more potential than he cares to admit in public. He emphasized that the Spanish racer should be able to score at least one victory at a special section of the track – but probably not just one. At first, Alonso will understandably yield to the slower-yet-more-experienced rally drivers, but the second week of the rally may see him picking up the ropes and pushing ahead of the competition – just as long as he can muster enough patience for this.
The Dakar boss also pointed out that Alonso was lucky to get Marc Coma as the co-driver. According to him, Coma knows this particular rally extremely well and should prove invaluable. In any event, a famous F1 pilot participating in the Dakar Rally should warrant plenty of attention to the event from all audiences, including other motorsports stars.