Double Formula 1 w꧂orld champion Fernando Alonso says he does not feel ready to win the Dakar Rally at the first꧒ attempt.

Alonso, who has twice won the 24 Hours of𝓀 Le Mans and claimed a maiden sportscar title in the LMP1 World Endurance Championship since walking away from F1 at the end of 2018, is preparing for his first Dakar appearance at next month’s♛ event in Saudi Arabia.

In ✃November, Alonso achieved his first cross-country rallying podium finish during his third outing with Toyota ahead of his Dakar debut, but the Spaniard insists he will head to Jeddah with his “feet on the ground”.

Asked if he feels ready for Dakar at the 2019 FIA prize giving gala, Alonso rep🐽lied: “If I go there to enjoy the experience, the🔴n yes. If I go there to make the most of it, yes.

“If I think in terms of winning Dakar, I don’t feel ready. I’m pe🌃rfectly aware of my lack ofꦗ experience.

“I think in other races that ౠI attempt in Indy 500, or Le Mans or Daytona, I felt quite competitive in a level that I could fight for victory. In Dakar I don’t think I am at that level and I need to be with the feet on🦩 the ground.

“But I will play a different strategy. I will notꦅ b🍸e the fastest but hopefully I will be in a good position at the end.”

Alonso admitted he is finding the unique challenge of driving of different terrain “quite difficult” to adapt to, having spent hꦉis entire career in circuit racing.

“The reading of the terrain and the unknow🃏n that you are facing every kilometre, while in🀅 the circuit everything is optimised lap after the lap,” he explained.

“The distance, we are used to one and a half hours of concentra൩tion [in F1] where you can even relax on the straights.

“In Dakar, every metre is new and you need to pay attention that is onꦅ another level for eight or nine hours every day, so it’s quite difficult to adapt.”