Here is the thing, as Crash.net reports: Fernando Alonso is lining up for a stunning return to the Dakar Rally in January 2027. Seven years after his first outing in the punishing cross-country endurance raid, the veteran Spaniard has reportedly agreed to a deal for another shot at the ultimate off-road marathon.
Now, this is where it gets wild. The timing works out because the Dakar Rally runs every January in Saudi Arabia, which sits safely ahead of the March start of the Formula 24-race season (wait, the source says 24-race F1 season). Having extended his Formula 1 contract with Aston Martin through 2027, the 45-year-old racing legend is somehow managing to represent the Aston Martin brand across two entirely different tiers of top-level motorsport at the exact same time.
Spanish media indicate that familiar faces will be joining the mission. Alonso is set to be co-driven by Dakar legend Marc Coma, with whom he previously competed in the event, and he will also be reunited with his former engineer, Daniel Gratacos.
There is very little breathing room, though. With seven Grands Prix still remaining on the Formula 1 calendar, test miles will be hard to come by, but an initial test could arrive right after the Singapore Grand Prix during the Formula 1 break.
Back in 2020, Alonso took his first taste of the Dakar in a Toyota Hilux and fought through a dramatic rollover on Stage 10 that cost him hours, ultimately finishing 13th overall. Despite all those setbacks, he showed genuine stage-winning pace throughout the fortnight and made it clear he wanted to come back when the stars aligned. Testing is just around the corner, and his second assault on the desert is shaping up to be one of the absolute must-watch storylines on the 2027 motorsport calendar.
