Hartley: 'He'll love it but Le Mans will be tiring for Alonso'

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Brendon Hartley says Fernando Alonso is on the verge of an exhausting period of racing as the Spaniard kick starts his WEC schedule this week at Spa.

The McLaren driver has signed up for a super season of endurance racing with Toyota that will keep his plate more than full for the coming months as he dovetails his WEC commitment with F1.

The 'plat de résistance' for the two-time world champion will undoubtedly be next month's trip to Le Mans, an event Hartley won in 2017, when the Toro Rosso and former Porsche works drivers also had a busy period to contend with.

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"It will be something different for him," the Kiwi told Spain's El Mundo Deportivo.

"I did a similar thing to him at the end of last year. It's exciting but he'll be pretty tired when everything's over."

Hartley underlined the effort required for Le Mans, not only the draining strain associated with the race itself but also the workload that precedes the grueling 24-hour weekend.

"I don't know how many consecutive weeks he has, but I would say that Le Mans is a very exhausting race. It's not just a weekend, it's a full week, there's a lot of preparation, very short nights.

"But I think he'll love it," Hartley added.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.