---
title: "Fuji Speedway Really Wants Fernando Alonso to Attend Its WEC Race"
description: "Fuji Speedway in Japan wants Fernando Alonso to attend its upcoming WEC race so badly that it's petitioning for a date change."
date: "2018-02-02"
modified: "2018-02-02"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18153/fuji-speedway-really-wants-fernando-alonso-to-attend-its-wec-race"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Fernando Alonso"
  - "FIA WEC"
  - "Formula 1"
  - "Fuji Speedway"
  - "racing"
  - "World Endurance Championship"
---

# Fuji Speedway Really Wants Fernando Alonso to Attend Its WEC Race

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/02/fernando-alonso-honda-indy-500-2017-jerry-perez-22.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

There are many reasons why it's good to be Fernando Alonso, but primarily because people and companies will go drastically out of their way accommodate the two-time [F1](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/17876/manor-could-be-coming-back-to-formula-1>) world champion. The most recent example of this comes courtesy of the Fuji Speedway in Japan, which has requested a date change for its upcoming World Endurance Championship race just so the Spaniard can participate.

The request arose after [Fernando Alonso](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18117/confirmed-fernando-alonso-will-race-at-le-mans-with-toyota>) agreed to simultaneously compete in WEC with Toyota as well as in F1 with McLaren in 2018. This caused the two series to have a scheduling conflict during the busy month of October when both championships are drawing to a close. As a result, the Toyota-owned speedway has requested that the endurance race take place on Oct. 14, instead of Oct. 21, [*Autosport*](<https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/134165/fuji-requests-date-change-to-avoid-alonso-clash>) reports.

![message-editor%2F1517531252287-5a117b36a6d9b.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1517531252287-5a117b36a6d9b.jpg>)
*Alonso during a Toyota WEC test in November 2017., *WEC by Marcel Langer**

The change would allow Fernando Alonso to partake in both races and keep it from clashing with the United States Grand Prix held in Austin, Texas. Interestingly enough, WEC's management had already rescheduled their trip to Japan earlier this year due to scheduling conflicts for full-time [WEC](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/16401/fernando-alonso-would-love-extended-wec-program-if-allowed>) drivers who planned on participating at the Petit Le Mans round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

If the WEC denies the request, Alonso will miss out on a race, but if they approve it, hundreds of team personnel will be affected. Will Alonso's superstardom prevail?

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)