French automaker Alpine unveiled the A424 Hypercar which is set to compete in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Alpine has officially launched their 2024 FIA WEC Hypercar campaign in conjunction with their Formula 1 program at their Enstone headquarters.
The Signatech Alpine endurance team has debuted its entry into the elite Hypercar class with the A424 LMDh, which features a modified turbocharged Mecachrome engine and a chassis designed by Oreca.
Their two A424 entries have been testing with the blue liveries that they will use for their debut campaign, along with the corresponding decals.
Alpine will be one of three teams making their Hypercar debut in 2024; the other two, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini Iron Lynx, will each field one Hypercar. Alpine raced in the first two Hypercar seasons in 2021 and 2022 using a grandfathered Rebellion R13 LMP1.
The first round of the 2024 WEC season will take place at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar next month, marking the debut of the A424 as an endurance Hypercar. It is currently the sole LMDh prototype that will not compete in this year’s GTP class races held by IMSA.
“We are writing the next lines of the history of Alpine in Endurance,” said Alpine Endurance Team principal Philippe Sinault. “We must be humble, but ambitious for our project.
“We experienced big changes and a huge step forward as a team. To reveal our Hypercar for the 2024 season alongside our drivers is truly a special moment.
“We will learn to use the technical package, rely on our drivers’ experience, be reliable and, of course, finish the races.
“I think it’s difficult to say if we will go for the win this year, but we are hungry for good results, and expecting to shine quickly with everything we have put in place.”
Alpine has also confirmed its driver lineup and the car that each racer will drive for the 2024 WEC season—which include the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15–16.
Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg will share the #35 entry joined by Paul Loup Chatin, who returns to the French manufacturer after winning his first European Le Mans Series championship with them ten years ago.
Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxiviere will be running the sister #36 A424 along with Mick Schumacher who is making his endurance racing debut.
Jules Gounon has also been included in the program as a backup driver. The Frenchman will compete primarily in GT3 competition as a 2024 Mercedes-AMG factory driver, according to a recent announcement.
Gounon might play a particularly important role given Mick Schumacher is the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team’s backup driver. His obligations with Alpine in the WEC will take a backseat to any duties he has for the F1 role.
