Riyadh, Nov 11, 2019, SPA -- Two-time Formula-One world champion Fernando Alonso has continued his preparations for the Saudi Dakar Rally 2020, as he ranked third in Al-Ula-NEOM Rally in which he was making his debut. The result of the race comes in perfect timing for the Spanish driver, who is preparing for his first-ever experience at the Saudi Dakar Rally, which the Kingdom is hosting for the first time in the history of the Middle East and Asia from 5 to 17 January 2020. It was a great feeling to finish third and reach the podium in a desert race for the first time in my life, it also gives me a lot of confidence in Dakar, he said. About his particpation in Saudi Dakar 2020, he said, we knew the geography of the place very closely because the terrain is very similar to what we are going to face. --SPA 20:34 LOCAL TIME 17:34 GMT 0030 www.spa.gov.sa/w1208193