Alonso set for first Daytona laps on Friday
Fernando Alonso is set to get his first taste of Daytona International Speedway on Friday at the start of the 'Roar Before the 24' test, kicking off what looks set to be a busy year of sports car commitments for the McLaren Formula 1 driver.
Alonso announced in November he would be entering the Rolex 24 at Daytona with United Autosports, a team co-owned by McLaren executive director Zak Brown, and enjoyed his first test in its Ligier JS P217 car at Motorland Aragon ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso is set to get his first taste of Daytona International Speedway on Friday at the start of the 'Roar Before the 24' test, kicking off what looks set to be a busy year of sports car commitments for the McLaren Formula 1 driver.
Alonso announced in November he would be entering the Rolex 24 at Daytona with United Autosports, a team co-owned by McLaren executive director Zak Brown, and enjoyed his first test in its Ligier JS P217 car at Motorland Aragon ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 'Roar' test offers drivers and teams practice running across three days at Daytona from January 5-7, with seven practice sessions scheduled over the weekend.
The first running at Daytona comes on Friday with a 75-minute practice from 11am to 12:15pm ET (4pm to 5:15pm GMT) where Alonso may rack up his first laps of the famed circuit for United Autosports.
Alonso is entered to the race alongside Formula 3 champion and McLaren junior Lando Norris, as well as rising sports car racer Phil Hanson.
It's ROAR time #BeUnited pic.twitter.com/oSNujYyyE7
— United Autosports (@UnitedAutosport) January 4, 2018
The second United entry will be shared by Hugo de Sadeleer, Will Owen, Paul di Resta and Bruno Senna, with both cars racing in the Prototype class that will battle for overall honours in the race, taking place on January 27-28.
Alonso's entry to the Rolex 24 acts as preparation for a likely shot at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota, for whom he also tested in Bahrain six weeks ago, with additional FIA World Endurance Championship race appearances also on the cards.
