In the wake of the announcement that Fernando Alonso will be racing at the Daytona 24 Hours early next year, we reported that the McLaren driver is in contention that this would be a prelude to a foray at the Le Mans 24 Hours and now it transpires that this is increasingly likely.
Authorative sportscar website Sportscar 365 are reporting that Toyota are open to such a scenario, reporting: “Toyota technical director Pascal Vasselon told Sportscar365 last weekend in Shanghai they are not currently in a position to finalize drivers for next year, as its return to the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2018/19 ‘Super Season’ has not yet been confirmed.”
The report added: “Alonso would join Thomas Laurent for the single-day test, occurring the day after the WEC season finale, with the 19-year-old Frenchman having been selected by the WEC to drive a Toyota TS050 Hybrid.”
Alonso is keen to make a bid for the elusive ‘Triple Crown’ which requires a driver to win the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Indianapolis 500 as well as the Formula 1 World Championship.
The Spaniard has ticked one of those boxes with his two F1 titles, while he has unfinished business in the Indy 500 where he impressed in his debut earlier this year.
Sources have revealed that Alonso underwent a seat fitting at the Toyota factory in preparation for the end of season test in Bahrain.