Alpine Confirm FIA WEC Entry With LMDH Car From 2024

An announcement in Paris this evening has confirmed Renault’s sporting brand Alpine as the latest to adopt the new LMDH ruleset for competition in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2024 with a planned 4 year programme.

Alpine thus join Porsche (WEC and IMSA), Audi (WEC), Acura (IMSA), BMW (IMSA) and Cadillac (WEC and IMSA) in building LMDH prototypes for competition.

Alpine will also join the cars built to LMH rules in the same WEC Hypercar class from Toyota, Glickenhaus, Peugeot and Ferrari, plus the likely addition of ByKolles.

And by 2024 the French manufacturer should also see competition in LMDH from Lamborghini too

The Alpine effort will be based around the next generation Oreca LMP2 chassis with the LMDH’s ‘spec’ hybrid system mated to new in-house designed and built internal combustion engine. The Alpine F1 team at Enstone in the UK will assist with the aero development work for the programme.

The announcement comes after Alpine were permitted to display an F1 car alongside their A110 road and race cars at Le Mans this year, a move which clearly signalled that the company was in the final throes of determining whether their endurance programme would continue.

The confirmation is a huge boost for the Signatech outfit which, under the leadership of team owner Philippe Sinault built upon Championship-winning success in both ELMS and FIA WEC (plus the Le Mans 24 Hours) in LMP2 to leverage a 2021 ‘Hypercar’ programme featuring a grandfathered LMP1 car.

His team’s efforts deserve major credit in focusing Renault’s attention on the opportunities of the new-look top class in endurance racing.

The confirmation of the programme is also likely to see the WEC allow the current Alpine A480 permitted to continue through the 2022 and possibly the 2023 season, though a switch to LMP2 is possible for 2023.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile de l’Ouest: “Another great and prestigious constructor has joined the highest level of endurance racing, in the new top Hypercar class. For a year now, announcements continue to be made and Alpine’s participation is excellent news for our discipline. The Hypercar class is certainly a success and we are extremely happy to welcome such a top notch field.”

Laurent Rossi, President of Alpine Racing: “Alpine’s endurance program underscores the marque’s dedication and ambition in motorsport. By competing simultaneously in Formula 1 and endurance, Alpine will be one of the few constructors to participate in the two leading disciplines in auto racing. We intend to make the most of Formula 1 and endurance through technical and technological synergies to gain the advantage over our prestigious opponents.”

Philippe Sinault, team manager of Alpine Elf Matmut: “Signatech is immensely proud to have been chosen by Alpine for its involvement in LMDh. This represents the culmination of a shared project launched eight years ago. We feel more ambitious than ever and are happy to take our collaboration to the next level. After 32 years in auto racing, I can’t wait to challenge the most reputable manufacturers on the planet, with Alpine, a marque that conveys passion and that lives only for victory.”

 

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