Fernando Alonso Keen To Win WEC Title Despite LeMans Success

Fernando Alonso admitted he entered the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the goal of winning the famed LeMans 24-hour race but is still interested in going all the way and winning the championship despite his main focus being Formula 1 in 2018.

The Spaniard is targeting motorsport’s fabled Triple Crown, which entails winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the LeMans 24-hours and the Indy500 race. He has won the race at Monaco in 2006 and 2007 and won the LeMans in his first attempt in 2018, but came up short at the Indy500 in 2017.

Alonso has not given up his dream of completing the trifecta and has hinted he will drive the Indy500 again in the near future. Andretti Racing owner Michael Andretti recently urged the McLaren driver to quit Formula 1 and do a full season in the American IndyCar Racing Series in 2019.

The 37-year-old, however, is currently focused on F1 and the WEC season. In the former he continues to struggle with McLaren with his last F1 win coming in 2013, but, he has won two races in the latter this season and is in contention to win the championship.

Ahead of the WEC race in Silverstone, Alonso made it clear that despite LeMans being the lure to the championship, he is still keen on winning the title. But he remains skeptical as there are still six races remaining in the Endurance Championship season.

“When I joined the super-season it was for that reason: Le Mans was the big win, the big race, the big target,” Alonso said, as quoted on Racefans.net. “But I didn’t underestimate the world championship because to be Formula 1 world champion and endurance champion will be also quite attractive. So that’s the plan.”

“After winning two races we have a good advantage but still six more to go,” the double F1 world champion added.

Alonso’s F1 future, meanwhile, continues to be in doubt as he enters the final four months of his deal with McLaren. The Woking-based team are keen for him to re-sign, but the final decision lies with the Spaniard.

McLaren are yet to decide on their driver line up for the 2019 season, with both Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne out of contract. Current Renault driver Carlos Sainz has been linked to the second seat but everything hinges on Alonso’s decision, which is likely to be revealed after the ongoing summer break.

Daniel Ricciardo’s recent exit from Red Bull Racing has opened up a vacancy and Alonso has been linked with a move to the four-time Constructors’ champions. He has previously indicated that he is keen to join a race winning team and with Mercedes and Ferrari seats unavailable at the moment, the Austrian team could be a viable option if he wants to add to his 32 race wins in F1.