Fernando Alonso, Formula 1 world champion, has announced his return to the Dakar Rally next year, where he will drive a rally-raid vehicle from Aston Martin designed with inspiration from the video game Call of Duty.
According to Motorsport.com, the agreement between Alonso and Aston Martin was finalized in August, although the news has only recently been announced. The driver has made some enigmatic statements during the Bahrain Grand Prix, hinting at new surprises that could imminently emerge.
Alonso, who participated in the Dakar with Toyota in 2020 and finished in 13th position, has expressed his desire to continue exploring different disciplines within motorsport. He notes that his experience in various competition categories has allowed him to become a more complete driver.
A new challenge with Prodrive
The vehicle that Alonso will use is a variant of the Dacia Sandrider, which won the latest edition of the Dakar with the help of Nasser Al-Attiyah. Prodrive will be responsible for the vehicle and has already begun planning not only Alonso’s participation but also the creation of a complete team for the Dakar.
The first tests of the new vehicle are scheduled for the coming days, aiming to adequately prepare for the 5,320 kilometers of course presented by the 2027 edition, scheduled from January 1 to 15 in Saudi Arabia.
An uncertain future
Currently, there are doubts about the exact location for next year’s Dakar, with possible alternative plans if the political situation in the region worsens. Organizers are considering Morocco as an option, given current security concerns.
Alonso, who has accumulated rich experience in different events and series, continues with his commitment to seek new challenges, demonstrating that his love for motorsport knows no bounds.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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