ALONSO TO GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE ON SOUTH AFRICAN RAID EVENT
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will take another step towards a Dakar entry this week when he drives a Toyota Hilux on the Lichtenburg 400 event in South Africa.
The Spaniard’s entry on the South African Cross Country Series won’t be competitive, but it will offer a firm indication of his cross country pace following a two-day test in the car in Poland earlier this month. Alonso completed 350 miles on a variety of sandy, gravel terrain in Szczecin.
Alonso said: “It was a positive couple of days in Poland where I could experiment with a different sort of terrain. At this stage of my training, I welcome every kilometre in the Hilux and I’m happy we were able to push ourselves beyond the team’s original plans. It’s really great to be part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing family and be given opportunities to try my hands at different types of motorsport. The Hilux has been fun to drive and I’m enjoying every test.”
TGR South Africa team principal Glyn Hall said Alonso is looking more and more comfortable aboard the Hilux.
“This [Poland] is the first test for Fernando in Europe with the Hilux driving on very different terrains and conditions compared to Namibia two weeks ago,” he said. “As we progress through our training, we are focused on getting quality kilometres as Fernando continues to familiarise himself with the Hilux and rally raid, more so than pure mileage.
“Nevertheless, we were able to double the planned mileage for this test which demonstrates just how quickly Fernando is acclimatising to the Hilux. Next week, we leave the relative comfort of a private test setting to give Fernando a first taste of a rally raid competition environment at the Lichtenburg 400.”