Dakar 2027: Alonso tests the Aston Martin in Morocco
The newsroomUpdated on October 17, 20263 minFernando Alonso has driven the future Aston Martin for the Dakar 2027 in the Merzouga dunes in Morocco. What the images show and what is still unconfirmed.
Key point
Fernando Alonso has made a first test of the Dakar 2027 car in Morocco, according to Marca and Mundo Deportivo; neither he nor Aston Martin has announced anything yet.
Fernando Alonso has driven the future car for the Dakar 2027. According to Marca and Mundo Deportivo, the F1 driver used a weekend without a Grand Prix to fly to Morocco and make a first test in the dunes of Merzouga. Neither the driver nor Aston Martin has announced anything so far.
What the images show
Mundo Deportivo says journalist Gerard Farré posted images of this first run on TikTok. They show part of the Prodrive team, the outfit that had run the Dacia in rally-raid, a manufacturer absent from the Dakar this year.
The car tested is one of the chassis of the former Dacia Sandrider, the prototype in which Nasser Al-Attiyah won his sixth Dakar title in January. Marca says this chassis is due to be transformed into an Aston Martin in December, in the British marque's colours.
A test to learn
The Spanish paper explains that Alonso and Marc Coma, his co-driver in his only Dakar in 2020, were due to have their first hands-on session with the car. It is very different from the Toyota driven back then, built to a T1+ rulebook that had not yet been finalised.
Mundo Deportivo adds that Al-Attiyah, announced as a teammate at Aston Martin for the Dakar, is expected to act as a teacher and show the Spaniard how to get the most out of the car. Coma is described as the leading candidate to be his co-driver again.
What is not confirmed
At the Singapore Grand Prix, Alonso said he did not believe the Dakar was physically compatible with F1 and that he had read "rumours". He said he would announce any such challenge himself.
Both papers note that no statement has confirmed the entry. The test at least shows the project is on the table, but nothing official has been established to date.
A very tight calendar
The F1 season ends on 6 December, leaving only a month before the Dakar. Marca notes that the next F1 race is in Austin, in two weekends. Mundo Deportivo also recalls that Morocco could host a shortened Dakar of eight stages, a plan B considered because of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Frequently asked questions
Where did Fernando Alonso test the Dakar car?
In the big dunes of Merzouga, Morocco, according to Mundo Deportivo, which relies on images posted by journalist Gerard Farré.
Will Alonso officially take part in the Dakar 2027?
There is no official announcement yet: Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin have said nothing, Mundo Deportivo points out.
When did the test take place?
During the weekend without an F1 Grand Prix, between two runs of races; the next race is in Austin, according to Marca.
Sources
- Marca — Fernando Alonso is already testing the Dakar 2027 car
- Mundo Deportivo — Alonso caught testing the Dakar car in Morocco
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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