Could ex-dual Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso one day be King of the Mountain?
McLaren F1 executive director Zak Brown has not ruled it out, saying the Spanish star is fascinated with the prospect of conquering the Bathurst 1000 in the near future.
Brown said Alonso was looking at more trophies to add to his glittering resume after stepping away from full-time F1 driving duties this year – and Mount Panorama intrigued him.
Speculation has been rife that Brown – who also co-owns Holden Supercars team Walkinshaw Andretti United – will offer a Bathurst 1000 wildcard to Alonso as soon as next year.
Alonso has retained links with Brown’s F1 outfit McLaren since walking away from the category and has made it clear he wants to not only contest the Great Race, but win it.
Brown said Alonso’s interest was clear after the former F1 star saw the 2011 Bathurst-winning Holden Commodore that the McLaren F1 executive owned.
“I will say I have spoken to him about Bathurst,” Brown said.
“He considers it as a major race that he would like to win.
“He’s been around my Supercar that I have that won the race not that long ago, so he is fascinated by it.”
Asked what Alonso thought of his Supercar, Brown said: “He thinks the Supercars are cool.”
Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Bathurst wildcard this year went to IndyCar stars Alex Rossi and James Hinchcliffe and the Holden heavyweights have not ruled out handing out another in 2020.
Bathurst appears a likely pitstop for Alonso who has pursued motorsport trophies around the world since ending his F1 stint.
He has contested the IndyCars’ Indianapolis 500, had a World Endurance Championship campaign, won the Le Mans 24 Hours last year and claimed the Daytona 24 Hours crown in January.