Alonso says 2018 Le Mans chances are "50/50"

The McLaren Formula 1 star has targeted victory in the French endurance classic as part of his quest to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of motorsport, following his maiden Indianapolis 500 appearance last year.

He tested a Toyota TS050 Hybrid LMP1 car in the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain last November, and is tackling this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with United Autosports to help prepare for a future Le Mans assault. 

Alonso has been strongly linked to a Toyota drive for Le Mans - and possibly other WEC races that do not clash with F1 weekends - in the wake of his Bahrain test.

But when asked by Motorsport.com about his chances of racing at La Sarthe this year, the Spaniard revealed it was still not certain that a deal will be secured.

“It’s no secret I would like to race at Le Mans in the future,” Alonso said. “If it’s this year, not this year, it’s still not 100 percent sure.

“It could happen, yes, 50/50. There are many things you have to put together to make it happen, we are trying to do everything we can.

“Hopefully the answer is yes, but when it will be yes or not, you will know at the same time as I do.”

How Alonso could fit into Toyota’s Le Mans line-up remains unclear, with the Japanese marque poised to retain its six full-time drivers from 2017.

An announcement is expected ahead of the official Le Mans and WEC entry list unveiling in Paris on February 9.