Wayne Taylor Racing has confirmed that two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will join its lineup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway in January.
Alonso made his Rolex 24 debut this past January with United Autosport, the team co-owned by his McLaren boss, Zak Brown in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He finished 38th at Daytona alongside Phil Hanson and Lando Norris and won Le Mans with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Now he’s returning to Daytona to win it.
Alonso made his final Formula 1 start over the weekend at Abu Dhabi and will now transition into a new relationship with General Motors. He will compete in the Rolex 24 with Cadillac and will attempt to make the Indianapolis 500 next May in a Chevrolet.
For Daytona, Alonso team with his LMP1 teammate Kamui Kobayashi, Jordan Taylor and Renger van der Zande in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R.
"I am very happy about joining the Konica Minolta Cadillac team and Wayne Taylor Racing to race together at the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” said Alonso. "This is undoubtedly one of the greatest races in American and world motorsport. Returning to the United States is always special. The atmosphere created by the fans is unique throughout an incredible weekend. I really hope to fight for the win, as well as having fun and putting a smile on the fans’ faces.
"I made my debut last year both in endurance races and with these sportscar prototypes, as well as on this track. I was left wanting much more after a brake issue ended our hopes of stepping on the podium.
"After an intense year in which I’ve competed in both Formula 1 and the WEC, I’m really looking forward to 2019 and attempting to conquer one of the most important races in the world.
"I’m brimming with hunger and desire, and I can’t wait for the first race of next season and going out on track to battle with my Konica Minolta Cadillac teammates."
This only raises the profile of Wayne Taylor’s racing team — an opportunity, he is keenly aware of.
"First, I have to thank Konica Minolta for yet again supporting WTR, and that I am extremely excited to have added Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi as teammates for Jordan and Renger at Daytona," Taylor said. "Both Fernando and Kamui are the cream of the crop of world-class driving talent, not only in F1 but as current sportscar drivers. It’s taken a long time to put this all together and I’d like to thank everybody who made it all happen. Fernando drove at Daytona last year, and it’ll be the first time at the 24-hour for Kamui, who is a superstar driver who will figure it out quickly.
"We have plans to integrate both drivers into our program very efficiently and successfully. I’m absolutely ecstatic that we have been able to make this happen, and I can’t wait to get to Daytona."
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