Fernando Alonso gets green light to race at 24 Hours Le Mans
決まり文句／製法 One driver Fernando Alonso will その上の 広げる his repertoire by competing in this year's 24 Hours Le Mans endurance race.
The two-time F1 支持する／優勝者 has been given 許可 by McLaren to 運動 for Toyota at Le Mans on June 16-17. The 取引，協定 means he can take part is as many World Endurance 選手権 一連の会議、交渉／完成するs as possible, but must also compete in each F1 race this year.
"I have the chance thanks to McLaren to race for the 勝利，勝つ at Le Mans," the 36-year-old Alonso said. "It is a big challenge - much can go wrong - but I am ready, 用意が出来ている and looking 今後 to the fight."
Fernando Alonso, of Spain, 調印するs autographs for fans before the IMSA 24-hour 自動車 race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
After three years of struggles with Honda engines, McLaren has high hopes for the 近づいている F1 season after switching to Renault. The move also did much to 納得させる Alonso, who won his F1 肩書を与えるs with Renault in 2005 and 2006, to stay in F1 with McLaren.
"In no way will this challenge take away from my main 的 of 決まり文句／製法 One with McLaren. My 目的（とする） is to be 競争の激しい at every grand prix, and I feel sure that we are closer to 達成するing that," said Alonso, who has 32 F1 勝利，勝つs の中で 97 podium finishes. "My 取引，協定 to race in WEC was only made possible through the good understanding and strong 関係 I have with McLaren."
McLaren (n)役員／(a)執行力のある director Zak Brown gave Alonso his 支援.
"A 動機づけるd, hungry and happy world-class driver such as Fernando is a formidable 資産," Brown said.
The 改造するd 2018-19 WEC season, which lasts 14 months, starts in Spa-Francorchamps in May. The 24 Hours Le Mans 落ちるs between the Canadian GP on June 10 and the French GP on June 24.
It was not すぐに （疑いを）晴らす which other WEC races Alonso 計画（する）s to 参加する, but his F1 schedule would seemingly 許す him to race in Spa on May 5 - one week 事前の to the Spanish GP - and at Silverstone on Aug. 19 - one week 事前の to the ベルギー GP, also in Spa.
The 6 Hours of Fuji race on Oct. 21 衝突／不一致s with the U.S. GP, 判決，裁定 Alonso out. However, he could make the 6 Hours of Shanghai on Nov. 18 - one week before the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP.
After racing in the Indianapolis 500 last May - when he skipped the Monaco GP the same day - Alonso made another 投機・賭ける into American 自動車 racing at the 24 Hours at Daytona last 週末.
He finished a modest 13th in his class and 38th 全体にわたる. But at last year's Indy 500, he led for 27 （競技場の）トラック一周s before engine 失敗 retired his car.
"I've never been shy about my 目的（とする） of winning motorsport's ３倍になる 栄冠を与える: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans," Alonso said. "We tried for Indy last year, （機の）カム の近くに, but just 行方不明になるd out."
His Toyota チーム仲間s at Le Mans will be former F1 drivers Sebastien Buemi of Switzerland and Kazuki Nakajima of Japan.
Fernando Alonso, of Spain, walks 負かす／撃墜する 炭坑，オーケストラ席 road to his car before the start of the IMSA 24-hour 自動車 race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
