Hartley to inherit Alonso's WEC seat at Toyota for 2019/20

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Toyota has announced that ex-F1 driver Brendon Hartley will replace Fernando Alonso in the line-up of its #8 car for the 2019/20 WEC super season.

Hartley will be present at Le Mans this weekend as a reserve driver for the Japanese manufacturer but will make his official race debut with the Toyota Gazoo Racing squad at Silverstone in September alongside team mates Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima.

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"Brendon will replace Fernando — that is the most straightforward way to approach it," said Toyota Motorsport technical director Pascal Vasselon.

Hartley, a two-time LMP1 WEC champion with Porsche, has already had the opportunity to test his future ride, driving the Toyota TS050 at the team's pre-Le Mans shakedown run at Spa and at the classic endurance event's official test day that took place earlier this month.

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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.