Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

Fuel shortage cost Alonso Supercars test

Fernando Alonso went close to testing a Holden Racing Team Commodore in Spain last year, only to have the plan scuppered when the car ran out of fuel.

Fernando Alonso, McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren

Fernando Alonso, McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren

Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Fernando Alonso
#2 Toll Holden Racing Team: Garth Tander, Nick Percat wins
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL33
#2 Toll Holden Racing Team: Garth Tander, Nick Percat, #888 TeamVodafone: Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife
#2 Toll Holden Racing Team: Garth Tander, Nick Percat, #888 TeamVodafone: Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife
Zak Brown, Executive Director, McLaren Technology Group

McLaren boss Zak Brown was running his 2011 Holden Racing Team Commodore at Aragon late last year on the same day that Alonso was testing the United Ligier LMP2 car, leading to a plan for the Formula 1 megastar to have a go in the Bathurst-winning Supercar.

However, the plan came to a grinding halt late in the day when Filipe Albuquerque, who had jumped behind the wheel of the VE Commodore, ran out of fuel.

"It was one of these 'if we had time at the end of the day to do a lap, I'd love to do a lap' – and we ran out of petrol," said Brown.

"Actually, Filipe was in the car when it ran out going down the back straight.

"If we would've had time, [Alonso] would've had a go.

"With Fernando, he was in a very strict mindset. It's kind of 'I've looked at it, I've looked around it, now let me go do my job and at the end of the day when I'm out of that mode, if we've got time, I'll go have a play'.

"But we ran out of time, and gas. He'd like it."

Brown added that he could see Alonso actually racing a Supercar at some point in the future, providing he felt he could be competitive.

When asked if there was anything Alonso wouldn't try his hand at, Brown said: "Anything that he doesn't think he can win in, which unfortunately has been our [McLaren] car the last few years – but hopefully that'll change.

"He's the biggest racer I've ever seen. He loves all different types of racing, he's fascinated by it. But whatever he does, he wants to do it very seriously.

"So he would never come and do something that he didn't think he could be competitive in."

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article New F1 tyres won't be understood until mid-season
Next article Hamilton cautions Ricciardo not to alienate Red Bull

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global