Alonso aims to sustain 100 percent win rate at Silverstone

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Fernando Alonso and his Toyota team mates will be targeting a third successive win in the World Endurance Championship at Silverstone next weekend.

The Spanish driver will exit the summer break a week before his Formula 1 colleagues to resume his WEC 2018 programme with the Japanese manufacturer.

Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajim claimed victory at the series' opening round in Spa in May before following their successful debut with a win in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours.

Alonso therefore hopes to pick up where he left off back in June.

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"I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a TS050 HYBRID again after a few weeks away," Alonso said.

"Of course, I have been pretty busy and I know the team has too, preparing for the challenge at Silverstone.

"Unlike Le Mans, this is a track I know really well and I have already experienced the new track surface, so I hope that can help the team to get a head start.

"So far the WEC season has been perfect so I want to keep that going this weekend."

Indeed, it's been a relatively easy task for the Toyota LMP1 crew, but Buemi believes the manufacturer could have its work cut out for it at Silverstone.

"It’s going to be a challenge," contends Alonso's team mate.

"We know Silverstone is never an easy track for the hybrid systems because we don’t have a lot of heavy braking, plus there has been an EoT [equivalence of technology] adjustment.

"It’s going to be a challenge and I’m looking forward to the fight. It will also be a pleasure to be there in August after years of visiting in April when it’s pretty cold, so I have high hopes for the weather."

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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.