Alonso '100 percent sure' to return to the WEC in the future

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Fernando Alonso says he is only taking "a short break" from the World Endurance Championship, and has vowed to return to the series in the future.

On the eve of the penultimate round of the WEC's super season at Spa this weekend, Toyota announced that Alonso would not be included in the manufacturer's line-up for its 2019/20 campaign and would be replaced by former Toro Rosso and works Porsche driver Brendon Hartley.

Speaking in Spa, Alonso said he was "only taking a short break" from the endurance series in order to keep his options open for other opportunities in 2020.

"In the medium term and long term, 100 percent I will come back to WEC, because it is a series I really enjoy," said the Spaniard.

"I like the type of racing here, I like the unpredictably of the racing with all the traffic and I like the team spirit of sharing a car with teammates."

Alonso departs the WEC - replaced at Toyota by Hartley

"To commit to the new [WEC] season until June 2020 was closing [the door] on some of the opportunities that may come later in the year, so I took the decision to stop this programme for the moment, for the short term.

"Being free of any obligations is the best way I could approach those opportunities — that is the reason why I could not commit [to Toyota] in May of this year."

Alonso didn't elaborate on his future plans which could include a full-time presence in IndyCar, a return to F1 or perhaps a foray into the world of rally raid with Toyota.

"It could be F1 in 2020, it could be IndyCar, it could be a different series outside of all this, or maybe I will not do anything," he said.

"I have the possibility to decide what I want to do in 2020. I have to wait and see what happens in the next two months.

"Being free of commitments is the best way to make the most timely decision. If I was committed to something, those opportunities would not come.

"I have two or three ideas in mind and in July it will be known.

After Spa, the 37-year-old will head back to Indianapolis where he'll enter the thick of his preparations with McLaren for this month's Indy 500.

The Spaniard will then conclude in June at Le Mans his super-season stint with Toyota, but Alonso's schedule thereafter remains unknown.

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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.