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FERNANDO ALONSO JOINS TOYOTA’S LMP1 TEAM

Fernando Alonso joins Toyota for 2018/19 WEC season - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Fernando Alonso joins Toyota for 2018/19 WEC season - Photo: LAT

Fernando Alonso joins Toyota for 2018/19 WEC season – Photo: LAT

Toyota has confirmed their driver line-ups for the 2018/19 World Endurance Championship, which includes the signing Fernando Alonso.

Alonso will join in the Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in the No. 8 TS050 HYBRID for the WEC rounds that don’t conflict with his Formula 1 commitments, including the Le Mans 24 hour. Leaving the Spaniard with a grueling 25-race schedule in 2018.

“I am very excited to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time.” said Alonso

“It is a race which I have followed closely for a long time and it has always been an ambition of mine to participate. Endurance racing is a different discipline compared to single-seaters and I enjoyed my first taste of it at Daytona.

“I am looking forward to working together with, and learning from, Sébastien and Kazuki, who are both very experienced endurance drivers. It will be a steep learning curve for me but I am ready for this challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”

The driver line-up for the No. 7 Toyota remains unchanged with Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López.

Anthony Davidson, who won five races in 2017 alongside Sébastien and Kazuki, will remain as part of the team as Reserve and Development Driver.

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