Fernando Alonso has signed agreements with General Motors brands Cadillac and Chevrolet to contest next year’s Daytona 24 Hours and the Indianapolis 500, RaceFans can reveal.
The 37-year-old, who announced the end of his Formula 1 career after yesterday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will race a Cadillac DPi-V.R at January’s Daytona 24 Hours. The entry will be run by Wayne Taylor Racing, winners of the event in 2017.
There are no current plans for Alonso to compete in additional IMSA rounds beyond the season-opening Daytona race. Earlier this year he drove a United Autosports-run Ligier JS P217 in the same event.
RaceFans understands the formal announcements of Alonso’s deals with the GM brands will follow in early December.
Under the agreement Chevrolet will also supply power for the IndyCar that McLaren will enter for Alonso in next year’s Indianapolis 500. A separate announcement about that programme is expected shortly.
Alonso is taking part in a promotional ‘car swap’ event today at the Bahrain International Circuit with Chevrolet NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.
Speaking during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Alonso indicated he may add further races to his 2019 calendar.
“I already have a couple of commitments next year with the WEC super-season, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans again, and the Indy 500 with McLaren that we will add there, and probably we will add a couple more races,” he said.
“But I’ll try to relax as well, to combine the joy of driving with having a little bit of life, because Formula 1 is total dedication to the sport and after 17 years I need a break.”
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