Toyota signs Fernando Alonso for the FIA WEC super season

Toyota Gazoo Racing announces today that F1 superstar Fernando Alonso will join their LMP team in the FIA World Endurance Championship super season which includes two editions of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, in June 2018 and June 2019.

As an FIA WEC calendar doesn’t collide with an F1 calendar, Alonso has been announced as a full-time driver in Toyota’s #8 LMP1 prototype, together with Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima. The other crew in the #7 car would be Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez.

Alonso during last year’s test with Toyota

“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,” Fernando Alonso said.

Alonso tested Toyota TS050 Hybrid LMP1 prototype last year during an FIA WEC Rookie test and made his sports car racing competitive debut a few days ago at Daytona 24 Hours with United Autosports.

Alonso joins Toyota as a replacement for Anthony Davidson, who spent six seasons as Toyota LMP1 driver. He will remain an important member of the team, bringing his experience to a new role as Reserve and Development Driver.

Photos: Toyota,