A desert test revives the champion’s ambitions beyond Formula One.
MERZOUGA
Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has been spotted testing a rally-raid prototype in Morocco, providing the clearest indication yet that the Spanish driver is preparing for a possible return to the Dakar Rally in 2027.
The 45-year-old driver took advantage of a break in the Formula One calendar to conduct a private test in the dunes of Merzouga. He was accompanied by former Dakar motorcycle champion Marc Coma, who previously served as his co-driver during his first participation in the demanding desert competition.
Images circulated by motorsport journalist Gerard Farré showed Alonso driving a Prodrive-developed Dacia Sandrider, a vehicle associated with a project expected to compete under Aston Martin branding following Dacia’s withdrawal from the event.
The test represents an important development after weeks of speculation about Alonso’s future in international motorsport. Reports earlier this month suggested that Aston Martin could support his return to Dakar while maintaining his Formula One commitments.
However, Alonso has not formally confirmed his participation in the 2027 edition. He recently questioned whether the physical demands of a two-week rally could be combined with the preparation required for a full Formula One season.
His appearance in Morocco does not eliminate those concerns, but it demonstrates that preparations are sufficiently advanced for him to evaluate the vehicle under demanding off-road conditions.
Alonso previously competed in the Dakar Rally in 2020, driving a Toyota Hilux alongside Coma. He finished 13th overall after adapting to a discipline substantially different from circuit racing, where navigation, endurance and terrain management play a decisive role.
The Spanish driver has developed one of the most diverse careers in modern motorsport. Alongside his Formula One world championships in 2005 and 2006, he has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
A return to Dakar would therefore extend his pursuit of success across different racing disciplines rather than represent an entirely new sporting experiment.
The potential involvement of Aston Martin also introduces a commercial and technological dimension. Prodrive’s experience in rally-raid engineering could provide the foundation for a competitive program, although the final team structure and driver arrangements remain subject to confirmation.
The Sandrider represents a different technical environment from the Toyota previously driven by Alonso. Learning its handling characteristics, suspension behavior and performance across dunes would require substantial preparation before any competitive debut.
For Aston Martin, participation in the Dakar could expand the brand’s international motorsport visibility beyond Formula One, connecting its identity with endurance engineering and off-road performance.
Yet the central uncertainty remains Alonso’s commitment. Testing a vehicle does not constitute an official race entry, and the physical demands of Dakar would need to be reconciled with his continuing Formula One responsibilities.
The Moroccan session nevertheless signals that the possibility of another Dakar campaign has moved beyond speculation into practical preparation.
The coming weeks will determine whether Alonso transforms that preparation into a confirmed entry for one of motorsport’s most demanding competitions.
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