McLaren says Alonso couldn't do dual F1/WEC programme

Alonso is tipped to join Toyota for next week's WEC rookie test in Bahrain, as discussions continue regarding a potential assault with the Japanese manufacturer on next year's 24 hours race at Le Mans.

There have been suggestions that in a bid to prepare himself better for Le Mans, Alonso could take part in several WEC events – as they do not clash with F1 races in the early part of the year.

But McLaren racing director Eric Boullier thinks that the physical demands of committing to two top-line series may be too much.

"I don't think you can physically do two programmes, it is too complicated," he said. "If you commit to two programmes it is a huge distraction.

"Doing Le Mans, or doing Indianapolis, or doing Daytona, why not? Because it is a one- off.

"But doing more than this would definitely be a distraction from his main commitment which is F1."

Boullier knows that Alonso is eager to secure motor racing's triple crown of victories in the Monaco GP, the Indy 500 and Le Mans, but he thinks that the job of McLaren is to give the Spaniard such a competitive car in F1 that his thoughts do not drift elsewhere.

"He said he is keen to do some races outside this triple crown, and there are case-by-case discussions," said Boullier when asked if Alonso could be released for some WEC events.

"Obviously his main and his first focus is F1 – and that has priority. We will do everything we can to give him a competitive car and if we do this he will not race anything else."