Opinion: Can Alonso Succeed at Dakar?

Paul Jeffrey · Oct 26, 2019

Fernando Alonso has announced he will compete in Dakar 2020 for Toyota - do you think the Spanish former F1 World Champion has what it takes to get the job done in the desert?

Double Formula One World Champion, double Le Mans 24 Hour winner, 2018/19 World Endurance Champion... Fernando Alonso has enjoyed an incredible career so far, and come early 2020 the Spanish former McLaren F1 driver will be turning his hand to long distance off road racing... a very, very different discipline, and something that could be the biggest test of Alonso's career to date.

Do you think Alonso can achieve success when the 2020 Dakar takes place next January?

Let us know your thoughts and opinions below!

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rubennaatje · Oct 26, 2019

I've been following him well, also during rallye du maroc and although it was his first (real) competitive outing he was slower than Erik van Loon for example. A very good amateur, but still an amateur.

But who knows, Alonso learns quickly. Don't think he can win but I do think there's a chance he'll be competetive.

DKGORACE · Oct 26, 2019

I think he will do as best as he can, while still enjoying the learning process. No longer in F1, and using his name to find more styles of racing is great for the sport. I wish more leading drivers and teams did this like the old days. It wasn't unheard of to see Mario in a Can Am, NASCAR, and an Indy car in a months time. Same with the brits doing F1, F-jr, and a tin top race on the same weekend. But contracts, and lawyers will keep that at bay.

pcraenme · Oct 26, 2019

As a publicity stunt... yes, but not as a serious contender. Alonso is a great racing driver, but Dakar is more than just racing.

ZeldaACFan17 · Oct 26, 2019

Dakar is a challenge of endurance. A long drive with lots of obstacles to overcome.

CreamyCornCob · Oct 26, 2019

To answer the question with another one, did Kimi succeed in WRC?

boomn · Oct 27, 2019

No, but it's awesome that he's trying!

OZ67 · Oct 27, 2019

Why not? his in the race

NtsParadize · Oct 27, 2019

Dakar? What Dakar?

Cosimo · Oct 27, 2019

I don't understand why Alonso doesn't just retire in some spanish villa somewhere. Seriously, just stop it please.

Helldriver · Oct 27, 2019

Cosimo said:
I don't understand why Alonso doesn't just retire in some spanish villa somewhere. Seriously, just stop it please.

Why should he stay at some boring villa in spain, when he can race all over the world?
What would you do?

G_B · Oct 27, 2019

For me, it is unlikely he to win this edition, maybe in a few years. This year's, the road is demanding, with fewer visual cues and more resource fulness to identify. Also, coming from a world where you change the tires in a few seconds, at the Dakar, you have to know how to do everything.

Good luck, that's all

DrRob · Oct 27, 2019

paulvanwens · Oct 27, 2019

Dakar is more then just driving fast. A lot will depend on his navigator and not having to deal with mechanical issues. It sure does make Dakar even more interresting to follow this upcoming edition

Domagoj Lovrić · Oct 28, 2019

Cosimo said:
I don't understand why Alonso doesn't just retire in some spanish villa somewhere. Seriously, just stop it please.

Is it hard to understand? Man loves racing.
Dakar "rally"? Why not!

Mike Kadlcak · Oct 31, 2019

Dakar is like 14x Baja 500s in a row or so.... he should maybe first go there and try his luck... if he can handle dirt.

Cosimo · Oct 31, 2019

Domagoj Lovrić said:
Is it hard to understand? Man loves racing.

He stopped loving racing a while ago.

Deleted member 617659 · Nov 1, 2019

He confessed it to you at dinner?
Lol. Alonso is as funny as his haters.

ivanalesi · Nov 2, 2019

He has won Daytona, I think he simply wants to gain experience and just be a constant fixture at Dakar for the future... You don't have anything else that you can do in January if you're a racer!
He'll be crashing a lot, I think he'll be like Colin McRae, then he'll slow down, gain experience and be fighting for victory in some years time.

I just hope he does Indy again and again... also the 24h GT races, especially the Nurburgring! I mean, if you add all those races, you kind of get a fantastic calendar of different kinds of racing.