Alonso to contest Rolex 24 with United Autosports

Tuesday, 24 October 2017


Chris Medland / Image by Tee/LAT


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Fernando Alonso will return to take part in another iconic American race in 2018 when he drives for United Autosports in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, RACER can confirm.

Less than a year after his impressive Indy 500 outing in a McLaren-backed Andretti entry, Alonso will make his sportscar debut as United Autosports returns to Daytona for the first time since 2011. The Spaniard – who recently signed a McLaren contract extension – will share a car with fellow McLaren driver Lando Norris in Zak Brown's team.

Alonso's first run in the car will take place in Europe in the week ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, following on from a seperate test for European F3 champion Norris at Paul Ricard on November 7.
While Daytona does not clash with any of the F1 schedule – the Roar Before the 24 test is being held on January 5-7 ahead of the Rolex 24 on January 27-28 – Alonso sees the race as an opportunity to develop his endurance racing skills ahead of a potential Le Mans attempt in future as he goes in search of the Triple Crown.
"As I said many times, the Triple Crown is the main thing," Alonso said in Austin. "I know that the Indy 500 was a nice thing and I felt very competitive, but it was a big challenge that I took from zero, with no testing and no similar racing experience before the Indy 500 at any other oval, it was a big challenge.
"I was competitive and it felt good but if I want to prepare for Le Mans maybe there are other possibilities to prepare Le Mans a little bit better [than I did for] the Indy 500."
At present Alonso does not have a deal to race at Le Mans, but RACER understands McLaren would allow him to take part in the 2018 event should Toyota approach the double world champion.
Paul di Resta will also drive for United Autosports at Daytona and is set to lead the sister car to spread out the F1 experience across both entries. Alonso and Norris will be joined by Phil Hanson, while di Resta is to share a car with Will Owen. The rest of the line-up has yet to be finalized following the end of the ELMS season – where the team finished second in LMP2 and won the LMP3 championship – but RACER understands Jenson Button turned down one of the United Autosports seats and remains undecided over whether to race at Daytona.