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Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso had previously played down speculation about a return to the Dakar Rally, and while the future of the event in the Saudi Arabian desert remains uncertain, the Spaniard has already begun testing for the marathon race.
As widely anticipated, Alonso has been testing Prodrive's prototype, previously known as the Dacia Sandrider. Following the Romanian marque's decision to shut down its rally-raid program, the British motorsport outfit is searching for a new partner. This has sparked speculation that the Sandrider could be rebranded under the Aston Martin banner, paving the way for Alonso's Dakar return.
It was behind the wheel of this very Dacia prototype that Nasser Al-Attiyah stormed to victory in the latest edition of the Dakar Rally back in January.
Alonso and Prodrive's test session in Morocco was revealed yesterday by journalist Gerard Farres, who managed to snap a few long-range photographs. Alonso was seen wearing an all-black race suit, while the car itself was also entirely black and stripped of any commercial branding.
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