F1 pilot, Fernando Alonso stood the thirteenth time in Daytona |

Fernando Alonso is a happy man after his thirteenth place during the qualifications for the 24 hours of Daytona. The Spaniard was talking about the least important qualification of his life.

Alonso was nine and a half tenths of a second slower than the pole of our northern neighbour Renger van der Zande and fell clearly outside the top 10. Yet he was not dissatisfied because he was faster than several other LMP2 drivers at the first attempt.

“Knowing that the race is 24 hours, this was probably the least important qualification of my life,” says Alonso. “Normally I have about 60 or 70 laps to make it to my backlog to make up, here I will 24 hours time. Hopefully, the qualification is not a determining factor this weekend.”

With his thirteenth place should Alonso up to five Oreca cars, the LMP2 dominate, for them to go. The good news, however, is that he is one Oreca and the other two Ligiers, including the sister car of United Autosports with Bruno Senna behind the wheel, know to stay.

“I think we have a good session behind the back. It was nice to have a few laps with the car to be able to drive without traffic. During the free training, there was always a lot of traffic but during the qualifications for the prototypes may get a few good laps and the car which is better to get to know.”

“I was happy with my laps, the balance of the car is also more or less well. We still have some speed to find, but generally, I think that we have done properly.”

“We are also pleased that we, with a good margin the fastest Ligier since we have top drivers in our team, Bruno Senna was world champion in the LMP2. We were competitive and we have the maximum taken out,” concludes the two-time world champion F1.

Last year, Alonso in the GP of Monaco to pass to America to take part in the Indy 500. After his participation in the Indy 500, this is the second outing of the F1-pilot in the endurance-racing. Possible, Alonso is also participating in the 24 hours of Le Mans.

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