Fernando Alonso is hoping to “do something unprecedented” as a racing driver, as he hinted at new projects in the future.
The Spaniard made the claim after winning a rain-shortened Daytona 24 Hours this past weekend, with his pace in the wet proving vital for the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac alongside Kamui Kobayashi, Renger van der Zande and Jordan Taylor.
For Alonso, however, that is just the start of his exploits in his first year after retiring from Formula 1, with adding the final leg of the Triple Crown his main goal for 2018.
“Right now my full focus is on the Indy 500, but I’m thinking,” he said to Racer. “I’m trying to do something more in different disciplines that are not only circuits, but I need to think, I need to plan and I need to make sure that I’m competitive.
“To have the right people, the right teams and the right preparation. Whichever adventure is next, I will not do it if I’m not competitive or I don’t have a shot at winning.
“So I need to be very calm and clever with the decisions with the future. The aim is to do something unprecedented in motorsport.”
Those comments hint the 37-year-old may look at trying his hand at rallying or NASCAR, with Alonso driving the latter in a car swap with Jimmie Johnson last year in Bahrain.
“I think to win in different series and win in different disciplines in motorsport which are quite specific, you need to probably be born with that talent and grow up with that knowledge of that series – like oval racing in IndyCar and things like that,” he continued.
“To come here and try to be competitive or win it is something, I think in the modern era of motorsport, is quite difficult.
“In the past, it was a little bit more open – motorsport in general – but now every series became very professional, and you need to take full dedication to each series and each driving style, things like that.
“Hopefully soon I can tell you some more of the plans. I already have an idea…”
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Of course, one option that also remains on the table is a return to F1 but Fernando appeared to suggest that was only possible in an ironic tone.
“I have more to do this year than 12 months ago,” he was quoted by GPFans. “Of course it will be stressful for those in Formula 1 as soon as the season starts, but I have not had a single day off this month.
“In February the tests with [WEC team] Toyota start again and the Indy programme will also start, so I will be very, very busy until June.
“People ask me what life is like without Formula 1 and my answer is ‘Maybe I’ll come back to the F1 paddock to rest a little’,” Alonso joked.