If a driver becomes such a talismanic figure in Formula 1 that the sport’s leadership is willing to change regulatory frameworks and bend over backwards to keep them on the grid, that driver commands a unique level of leverage. Fernando Alonso, the two-time Formula 1 World Champion whose racing hunger remains entirely unquenched, is set to make a sensational return to the grueling Dakar Rally with Aston Martin. According to reports surrounding his recent contract extension, participating in the world’s most famous cross-country rally was a condition of his staying with the British luxury automaker. To make it happen, Aston Martin will reportedly task renowned motorsport engineering firm Prodrive with preparing a bespoke rally-raid machine badged as the "Dreadnought"—the virtual concept car originally designed specifically for the video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4."
Alonso is no stranger to the treacherous terrain of the Dakar Rally. He made his maiden voyage into endurance off-road racing during his earlier tenure with Toyota, putting in a respectable and remarkably clean performance to finish 13th overall in the 2020 edition. However, Aston Martin has never officially competed in the iconic cross-country rally as a manufacturer. To bridge that massive engineering gap, the British automaker is leaning heavily on its motorsport partnerships. Industry reports indicate that Aston Martin will leverage Prodrive’s extensive expertise. The Banbury-based engineering powerhouse previously ran the state-backed Bahrain Raid Xtreme team, competing at the Dakar Rally from 2021 through 2024. Prodrive later established a high-profile partnership with Dacia, working alongside legendary rally driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, who secured his sixth career Dakar victory behind the wheel earlier this year.
Yet, bringing an Aston Martin design to the dunes of Saudi Arabia or wherever the Dakar route leads presents a unique logistical and mechanical puzzle. The manufacturer behind the DBX luxury SUV does not currently produce a true, heavy-duty off-road production vehicle that could serve as a natural donor for the race car’s bodywork and architecture. Instead of starting completely from scratch—a path successfully forged by brands like Audi with their advanced, range-extended RS Q e-tron, which generated little skepticism from the racing community—Aston Martin has chosen a much more unconventional route. The Prodrive-built Dacia Sandrider platform will serve as the structural and mechanical foundation for the Aston Martin entry. Consequently, one of the greatest circuit racers of his generation will soon be traversing massive sand dunes in a vehicle heavily styled after a virtual combat machine born inside a first-person shooter franchise.
Alonso Wants to Build a Legacy
The decision to tackle the Dakar Rally comes at a fascinating juncture in Alonso’s legendary career. The Spanish veteran heavily contemplated retirement before finally laying rumors to rest by announcing that he has committed to staying on the F1 grid for the 2027 season. The two-time world champion has made it abundantly clear to the media and his team that he wants his twilight years in Formula 1 to end on a high note. However, the current reality of the Aston Martin F1 project is far from competitive. The team has struggled to find consistent performance, currently sitting down the order in the constructors’ championship and fighting for minor points finishes rather than race wins or podiums.
For a competitor of Alonso’s caliber, a secondary factory racing campaign provides a vital outlet. A full-scale Dakar assault could serve as the ultimate vehicle to placate Alonso’s relentless, lifelong urge to build an unmatched multi-discipline legacy—at least until the Aston Martin Formula 1 technical team manages to turn the corner and provide him with a more competitive Grand Prix car.
This sort of extracurricular motorsport adventure is entirely in character for the Spaniard, who famously negotiated similar freedoms during his turbulent final seasons with McLaren before his initial, temporary departure from Formula 1. Back then, McLaren accommodated his desire to chase the elusive Triple Crown of Motorsport. Alonso was permitted to contest the 2017 Indianapolis 500 in a competitive McLaren-branded entry run in partnership with Andretti Autosport. He stunned the American racing world by capturing Rookie of the Year honors after qualifying a sensational fifth and running near the sharp end of the lead pack for much of the afternoon, only for his Honda engine to suffer a dramatic failure with just 21 laps remaining.
To continue scratching Alonso’s competitive itch and keep him motivated under the McLaren banner, team management subsequently worked out a landmark agreement with Toyota that allowed him to race an LMP1 prototype in the 2018-2019 FIA World Endurance Championship. The gamble paid off spectacularly. Alonso dominated the championship alongside his teammates, capturing overall victory at both iconic editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans held during the unique 14-month "super season," alongside other major world endurance accolades. Now, by stepping into a Prodrive-developed, game-inspired Aston Martin rally machine, Alonso is set to be forever intertwined with the pop-culture legacy of "Call of Duty," following a path of gaming crossovers previously trodden by fellow F1 icon Lewis Hamilton, who famously lent his voice and likeness to the franchise years prior.
