Rallying legend suggests Alonso tries the Dakar rally...

Carlos Sainz Sr, rallying legend and father of new McLaren driver Carlos Sainz Jr has called out for Fernando Alonso to take on motorsport’s toughest challenge, the Dakar rally.

The race, which has taken place in South America since 2009 in seen as one of the most brutal events in motorsport, and only the hardest drivers dare to take it on.

Sainz won the race last year in the car division and believes that the two time F1 World Champion would enjoy the race, but only if he “took it seriously”.

Sainz, a two time WRC champion said: "I encouraged him, but he is not stupid and he knows that he has to respect this race. It's a different discipline and you have to respect it.

"If Fernando ever asks me for advice, I will support him, but I'll tell him that he has to prepare it thoroughly by testing, understanding this discipline, and doing some other races.

"He's a great driver and I have no doubt he would do a great job if he took it seriously."

In the last two years we’ve seen Alonso race in F1, WEC and IndyCar, so why not try something else? Sainz Sr is 56 and still going strong, so Alonso has plenty of time to get involved with the rally if he so wishes…