Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed details of the preparation programme it has put in place for Fernando Alonso ahead of a possible debut at the Dakar Rall⛦y in 2020.

Alonso sampled Dakar Rally-spec machinery with Toyota in Soꦍuth Africa earlier this year in March as he continues his search for new challenges in motorsport since leaving Formula 1 at the end of 2018.

The two-time F1 world champion will step up preparations for a planned Dakar outing at next year’s event with Toyota. Over the next five months, Alonso will undergo an “intensive training programme” in the Toyota Hilux across Europe, Africa and the Middle🐲 East t🐻o familiarise himself with rallying.

Alonso will complete𝕴 further testing in South Africa between August 20-23, before entering his first non-competitive evꦍent in the same country on September 13-14.

"In March this year, 💛we completed a successful two-day evaluation with Fernando in our Dakar-winning Toyota Hilux iꦡn Southern Africa, which proved to be a valuable learning experience," Gazoo SA team boss Glyn Hall said.

"Not only did Fernando thoroughly enjoy the experience, but we could see him adapt and improve every time he got behind the wheel. I🍸t was clear that Fernando came to the test prepared and was ready 🐻to absorb everything we showed him.

"Rally 💝raid is new for Fernando and I'm certain he has the skill and spirit to take on this challenge.

"As reigning Dakar chꦏampions with a long history in rally raid, I'm confident we can work well together with Fernando to build up his confidence for rally raid competition over the next few months."

Alonso remains determined to become just the second driver in history to complete the tr🦩iple crown of motorsport, having added winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his Monaco Grand Prix victory.

The Spaniard claimed the World Endurance Championship crown at his first attempt dur🍨ing the 2018/2019 superseason campaign with Toyota and now needs to win the Indianapolis 500 to complete his goal. 

“I’m reall🐬y excited to continue my adventure with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing,” Alonso said.

“Together we ha෴ve achieved so much since I first drove a Toyota in November 2017, with ♐our two consecutive wins at Le Mans, the World Endurance Championship for the team and a drivers’ title with my teammates Sébastien and Kazuki.

“I got a taste of off-road rallying earlier this year and it left me with a g🐈o🍨od feeling that I want to prolong.

“I knew it would be a totally different experience with a steep learning curve but the Hilux just felt great; it gave me so much confide🔯nce so quickly and I was improving loop after loop.

“I’m rea൲lly looking forward to the next few months of training, g🔯etting to know the Hilux and working with the team.

“I’ve always maintained I want to pursue new c🧸hallenges in different disciplines and I’m at a great team to do that.”