SPORTS
Al-Attiyah confirms Alonso wants Dakar Toyota test
Baku, January 9, AZERTAC
Dakar Rally star Nasser Al-Attiyah has confirmed that he has spoken with Fernando Alonso about the possibility of the Spaniard testing his Toyota Hilux in Qatar in February, according to Motorsport.com.
The Qatar Rally, which has fallen off the 2019 calendar of the FIA World Cup, will be held from February 21 to 26. Alonso will have run the Rolex 24 at Daytona before then, and it would come well before his March 13-15 FIA World Endurance Championship date at Sebring with Toyota.
Gazoo Racing South Africa, which is running the Toyota effort on the Dakar Rally, made it clear to Motorsport.com that it has not started any conversation with Alonso.
Alonso has stated that he's unlikely to ever contest the Dakar proper, saying in September: “No. I don't think so. I need to consider and evaluate [several options] but there are things I need to be honest and know that I don't have the talent to do.
“I need to be honest with myself, and need to know where my limits are, and I don't have the talent to do that.”