66 replies to this topic

[Joseki]

https://translate.go...en-abril-958755

Nasser Al-Attiyah has revealed that Fernando Alonso will test the Toyota Hilux on the Dakar in April. The Qatari will act as 'professor' of the Asturian in his first contact with a vehicle 'Dakarian', with a view to a possible incursion in the South American test in 2020.

Nasser Al-Attiyah, triple champion of the Dakar and driver of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, has confirmed that he will test Fernando Alonso's Toyota Hilux in Qatar in April, after he himself disputes the rally held in his native country between April 17 and 22.

The Qatari has admitted that the Spaniard wants to perform the most demanding test of the world of motorsport and therefore will visit him in April to try the Toyota Hilux, the model that will use Al-Attiyah to seek his fourth victory in the Dakar.

[AustinF1]

Wow. Outstanding!

[Danyy]

Nice!

[AustinF1]

Should be done just in time for Barcelona.

[prty]

Yep, it was reported a while ago that Toyota gave the green light: https://forums.autos...33#entry8614083

[jonpollak]

Part of his REAL world championship.
Jp

[revmeister]

I'm liking this Toyota/Alonso relationship.

[AustinF1]

I'm liking this Toyota/Alonso relationship.

Indeed. Might be interesting to see what comes of it down the line...

Edited by AustinF1, 07 January 2019 - 05:01.

[Beri]

So possible premier championships should he go the route many of us expect and win them all:
- F1 World Champion
- 24h du Mans winner
- Daytona 24h winner
- Indy 500 Champion
- IndyCar Champion
- Dakar winner

What else would be on his path..?

[AustinF1]

What else would be on his path..?

Bathurst.

[Beri]

That's a good one. Perhaps FE in the future? Or the World Touring Car Cup?

[kumo7]

So possible premier championships should he go the route many of us expect and win them all:
- F1 World Champion
- 24h du Mans winner
- Daytona 24h winner
- Indy 500 Champion
- IndyCar Champion
- Dakar winner

What else would be on his path..?

 

one too many and missed important one that he claimed imho.

Edited by kumo7, 07 January 2019 - 06:19.

[Nonesuch]

Good idea. Who made Hill the king of deciding what makes the Triple Crown!

 

'Dakar'-F1-Le Mans. Sounds good, too.

 

While the 'Dakar' rally coverage is too woeful for me to really follow it with interest, it's fun to see both Alonso and Toyota have an open mind about all the different kinds of racing out there.

[loki]

Good for Fred.  It will be tough for him to win overall at Dakar first time out.  With Peugeot leaving last year it does take Toyota Gazoo up a notch perhaps for the overall.  They generally have a good effort, 2nd and 3rd overall in the cars last year (what he'd be driving is considered a car in Dakar world).  Just to finish would be a good accomplishment.  Looks like the race will go back to Africa for 2020.  Peru is the only country left that is willing to host and while there are some good dunes it's not quite the same as it's been in previous years.  Word is it will be in Algeria for 2020.

[Vielleicht]

The man is breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport

[Nonesuch]

Word is it will be in Algeria for 2020.

 

What is the major issue preventing a return to the old route at the moment? The Africa Eco Race has been going through Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal seemingly without problems for the last few years.

[Lennat]

Damn! Which high profile RACING drivers have done Dakar before?

[Nonesuch]

Damn! Which high profile RACING drivers have done Dakar before?

 

Jan Lammers... he's... high profile in the Netherlands. So there's that.

 

On a more serious note: Jacky Ickx! F1 race winner, Le Mans winner and Dakar winner!

Edited by Nonesuch, 07 January 2019 - 10:29.

[Requiem84]

I expect Alonso to do relatively well in Dakar. There aren't so many works teams with proper preparation... 

 

On a motorbike it would be a different level, but in a car he could make it into the top 10 in the first year I'd expect. Would generate a huge amount of press exposure for Dakar. And all the credits to Alonso for risking it out there in these kind of different categories. 

[kosmos]

Cool, he really wants to be "the racing driver". I hope he does full Indy at some point if he wins Indy 500.

[JtP2]

I think it should read "the man's PR people are breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport". Keep up the good work and job creation schemes with today's press release, much easier than driving a car to a win

[kosmos]

I think it should read "the man's PR people are breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport". Keep up the good work and job creation schemes with today's press release, much easier than driving a car to a win

 

 

Bitter much?, he drove a car to win recently, I suggest you check the wikipedia.

[Joseki]

I think it should read "the man's PR people are breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport". Keep up the good work and job creation schemes with today's press release, much easier than driving a car to a win

[HistoryFan]

I don't think Alonso will win the Rallye Dakar but driving it, it is awesome! Fantastic driver.

[AustinF1]

I think it should read "the man's PR people are breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport". Keep up the good work and job creation schemes with today's press release, much easier than driving a car to a win

Yeah, 'cause all he's done outside of F1 is make press releases.

 

[Myrvold]

Damn! Which high profile RACING drivers have done Dakar before?

Depends on your criteria for being high profile I guess... Does reaching F1 be high enough? Like, Paul Belmondo, Norberto Fontana or Jean-Louis Schlesser
Do you need to score points, like Philippe Aillot? Or is a podium needed, like Eric Bernard. Or do you need a win, or a good position in the WDC like Patrick Tambay or Clay Regazzoni?

 

Does Robby Gordon count? He started with off-road racing, but probably got more known due to numerous IMSA and Trans-Am wins, class wins in Daytona 24hr, Sebring 12hr, IndyCar wins, NASCAR wins etc. before doing Dakar.

I almost said Luc Alphand until I remembered he stared off winning the Alpine Skiing World Cup, and then doing Dakar before Le Mans. Also, I guess, Tom Coronel, even with quite a following, isn't high profile enough.

Regardless, it's not really something unique. It is a bit more special in this day and age that he does it, while still being close to his prime - and I really like that. However, I am not sure I see it as very realistic that he'll participate in Dakar.

[noikeee]

I never thought of this as a possibility, but it surprises me that he's considering doing it this early, whilst he's still fresh enough to rack up achievements in circuit series like Indycar, sportscars etc. Most multi-discipline drivers that end up switching to the Dakar seem to do it in their 40s.

[garoidb]

Depends on your criteria for being high profile I guess... Does reaching F1 be high enough? Like, Paul Belmondo, Norberto Fontana or Jean-Louis Schlesser
Do you need to score points, like Philippe Aillot? Or is a podium needed, like Eric Bernard. Or do you need a win, or a good position in the WDC like Patrick Tambay or Clay Regazzoni?

 

Does Robby Gordon count? He started with off-road racing, but probably got more known due to numerous IMSA and Trans-Am wins, class wins in Daytona 24hr, Sebring 12hr, IndyCar wins, NASCAR wins etc. before doing Dakar.

I almost said Luc Alphand until I remembered he stared off winning the Alpine Skiing World Cup, and then doing Dakar before Le Mans. Also, I guess, Tom Coronel, even with quite a following, isn't high profile enough.

Regardless, it's not really something unique. It is a bit more special in this day and age that he does it, while still being close to his prime - and I really like that. However, I am not sure I see it as very realistic that he'll participate in Dakar.

 

I believe Clay did Indy too. It's not all that unusual that Alonso is trying out all these forms of motorsport, as your post shows. Plenty of F1 drivers have done sports cars and Indycar events. He is attracting a lot of attention because of his high profile from F1, and to some extent because he is combining the different events (F1, Indy, WEC and now this) in a short time frame. Best of luck to him, I say.

[loki]

What is the major issue preventing a return to the old route at the moment? The Africa Eco Race has been going through Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal seemingly without problems for the last few years.

 

I posted something in the race thread similar that Mauritania was where the issues were.  Things have changed since then in that Mauritania seems a bit more stable, there used to be more money in South America and Dakar is a much bigger, high profile target for terrorists than Africa Eco.  The Africa Eco race is small compared to Dakar and much lower profile.  It's like comparing the Indianapolis 500 to a WoO race at IRP.  At this point though I'd think all things equal (security as well) money has more to do with it than any sort of historical context.

[Nacho]

And the timing of Dakar 2020 would not be a problem if a good F1 chance shows.
Not considering the big risk factor here though.

Toyota: "Haremos un gran trabajo para Alonso"

Toyota: “We will make a great work for Alonso”.

https://www.marca.co...73758b45f0.html (spanish)

[AlexPrime]

It is good that Alonso is building good relationship with Toyota.

[jonpollak]

Nasser Al Attiyah would be a great team mate for our boy.
Jp

[loki]

Nasser Al Attiyah would be a great team mate for our boy.
Jp

 

At different times both Gordon and Sainz had issues with Al-Attiyah as a team mate and both guys were pretty vocal about it.   While he is talented and accomplished much of his driving has been self financed.  I think that leads to him being more of an "everyman for himself" kind of driver than any sort of team strategy.  Can't say I blame him.  Fred could learn a ton from him though.  

[jonpollak]

https://www.motorspo...ta/4321008/amp/

Seems I’m a Cassandra.
Jp

[Nonesuch]

“We are talking between him, me and Jesus – who is another great friend."

 

Well with friends like that, Alonso should be a shoo-in for the win.

 

Seems I’m a Cassandra.

 

Doubtful.

[JRodrigues]

The man is breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport

 

He lives for the headlines, nothing else.

[AustinF1]

He lives for the headlines, nothing else.

LOL.

[statman]

The man is breaking down the boundaries of modern motorsport

 

you forgot the /sarcasm at the end of the post

[Requiem84]

Good thing to know that the 2020 Dakar will be the hardest Dakar ever in any case.

[Nonesuch]

He lives for the headlines, nothing else.

 

Based on what?

 

He said he wanted to drive the Indy 500. He did in 2017. He will again in 2019.

 

He said he wanted to drive the Daytona 24h. He did in 2018.

 

He said he wanted to drive Le Mans 24h. He did in 2018 - indeed, he joined up for the full WEC double-season.

[JRodrigues]

 

He said ...

 

He said ...

 

He said ...

 

He doesn't have to say anything. If he wants, he'll do it. We don't need to hear/read about it everytime he takes a dump.

 

He's noticed that he won't make it into the record books of F1 so he just wants to find a way to make it somehow.

[Afterburner]

Good thing to know that the 2020 Dakar will be the hardest Dakar ever in any case.

For sure, it will be the best race of his life.

[Sterzo]

So possible premier championships should he go the route many of us expect and win them all:
- F1 World Champion
- 24h du Mans winner
- Daytona 24h winner
- Indy 500 Champion
- IndyCar Champion
- Dakar winner

What else would be on his path..?

Well, he's never beaten me in indoor karting.

[Joseki]

He doesn't have to say anything. If he wants, he'll do it. We don't need to hear/read about it everytime he takes a dump.
 
He's noticed that he won't make it into the record books of F1 so he just wants to find a way to make it somehow.

He's in the history books as the man who beated Michael Schumacher and Ferrari at the top of their game.




Maybe try not to "read the history books" like this
 

Edited by Joseki, 09 January 2019 - 17:25.

[Afterburner]

Oh f$&k, it’s everywhere, isn’t it?

[Joseki]

Oh f$&k, it’s everywhere, isn’t it?

 

Yeah the movie is bad but it's a good meme template.

[BRG]

At different times both Gordon and Sainz had issues with Al-Attiyah as a team mate and both guys were pretty vocal about it. 

I remember Carlos Sainz having issues with Colin McRae as a team-mate.  So maybe Al-Attiyah is in good company.

[PayasYouRace]

He doesn't have to say anything. If he wants, he'll do it. We don't need to hear/read about it everytime he takes a dump.

He's noticed that he won't make it into the record books of F1 so he just wants to find a way to make it somehow.

Do you think it won’t make headlines when a double world champion goes and does these things? Is everyone expected to just greet the news with indifference?

The press make headlines, not Alonso.

[Nonesuch]

He doesn't have to say anything.

Sure he does, Alonso has tons of fans who like to keep up to date with what he's up to.

Those who don't care can just scroll right on by. The human mind will start to filter it out soon enough, it's clever like that.
 

He's noticed that he won't make it into the record books of F1 so he just wants to find a way to make it somehow.

 

It's no use having a record book if you're only going to include the one person who holds the absolute record. Other drivers have been more successful than Alonso in F1, that's true. So what?

 

Should viewers ignore Hamilton and Vettel, too? What's four and five titles anyway? They're hardly the first to do it. Big deal.

[AustinF1]

He doesn't have to say anything. If he wants, he'll do it. We don't need to hear/read about it everytime he takes a dump.

 

He's noticed that he won't make it into the record books of F1 so he just wants to find a way to make it somehow.

What's funny is you complaining here about Alonso talking too much about what he's gonna or might do ... in a thread about a race Alonso might race in, but hasn't uttered a word about.