McLaren hint at 2021 Le Mans entry, possibly with Alonso
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has suggested the Woking-based team could be looking at competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in as little as two years' time, potentially with one-time Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso.
After their disappointing outing in Indianapolis, where McLaren and Alonso failed to get through the qualifying for the Indy500, Brown has widened his scope of racing series to potentially get involved in with McLaren.
Alonso, of course, played an instrumental part in the winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year out for Toyota, while still being a full-time Formula 1 driver. The Spaniard will compete at Le Mans once again this year for the Japanese team, after having winning the 24 Hours at Sebring, Daytona and the 6 hours at Spa Francorchamps this year.
Brown thinks Le Mans could be a target for McLaren in the near future.
"Once we understand what the rules are and how we are doing in Formula 1, we will take a position on whether to get involved or not and when," the American told MN earlier this week.
However, he also knows it's risky to compete in such a prestigious series with sufficient experience and know-how.
“It would be risky for our debut to be at Le Mans 2021. We would have to be ready one or two races before that, so we need to be ready to compete in April or May 2021. The timeframe is very large, as well as all the different scenarios that are being negotiated."
Will Alonso be part of that Le Mans challenger? Brown would like that, as the idea of the Spaniard winning the triple-crown with a single constructor appeals to him, with Alonso winning the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix for McLaren already.
“I think it would be a great story to win them with him, having already won Monaco already; and maybe in the future, we will race in France together."