Dakar Rally 2020: Fernando Alonso starts the 'biggest challenge of my career'

Double F1 world champion begins the 12-day marathon in Saudi Arabia

Toyota Gazoo Racing's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso during the podium ceremony in Jeddah ahead of the 2020 Dakar Rally, which takes place in Saudi Arabia from January 5 to 17. AFP

Fernando Alonso (L) gives the thumbs-up with his Spanish co-driver Marc Coma. AFP

Spanish Oscar Fuertes Aldanondo (R) and Diego Vallejo during the podium ceremony. EPA

Austrian Martin Freinademetz (Red Bull Romaniacs) during the podium ceremony. EPA

Red Bull KTM's Australian rider Toby Price waves during the podium ceremony in Jeddah. AFP

Czech Roman Krejci (Ivar CS Team) during the podium ceremony a day before the departure of the Rally Dakar 2020, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. EPA

Philip Turner from UK (Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team) during the ceremony. EPA

Chilean Ismael Nietto during the ceremon. EPA

Dutch Martien Jimmik during the podium ceremony. EPA

Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (C) and his Spanish co-driver Lucas Cruz pose for a picture during the podium ceremony in Jeddah. AFP

Toyota Gazoo Racing's Qatari driver Nasser al-Attiyah (R) and his French co-driver Matthieu Baumel wave during the podium ceremony in Jeddah ahead of the 2020 Dakar Rally. AFP

Casale Racing's Chilean rider Ignacio Casale (C) speaks during the podium ceremony in Jeddah ahead of the 2020 Dakar Rally. AFP

Spanish driver Fernando Alonso is aiming to create history as the first Formula One world champion to win the Dakar Rally as the 12-day marathon starts in Saudi Arabia.

Alonso, who won the F1 championship with Renault in 2005 and 2006, is one of 351 starters in this year's 7,500-kilometre race, which was moved from South America to Saudi Arabia.

Among the starters will be motorbikes, quad bikes and trucks but Alonso, who will have five-time bike champion Marc Coma navigating his Toyota, will be in the car category as he bids to become one of the greatest all-round drivers of all time.

Apart from his success in F1, Spaniard Alonso, 38, has also won consecutive Le Mans 24-hour races and has singled out the Indianapolis 500 as his priority for 2020. He describes Dakar as "the biggest challenge of my career".

Alonso is not the first F1 driver to take part in the race.

Belgian Jacky Ickx, a winner of eight grand prix and six-time winner of Le Mans, won Dakar in 1983 and came second in 1986 and 1989. Frenchman Patrick Tambay, who had two wins in his 114 grands prix, came third in 1988 and 1989.

Given the treacherous conditions - the route takes place on long stretches of sand dunes - Alonso is not overly confident of challenging for victory, saying that even nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb was unable to deliver when he raced the Dakar.

Loeb won 13 stages but could only finish second in 2017 and third in 2019.

"If Loeb still hasn't won the Dakar, imagine me, who is coming from asphalt," Alonso said. "I think the goal is more to approach the rally as an enriching experience for us."