Alpine announces 2024 LMDh Le Mans and WEC entry

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Alpine has announced it will enter two of its own LMDh cars in the Hypercar class in Le Mans and WEC from 2024

Alpine lead

Alpine has announced it will enter WEC under the LMDh regulations from 2024

Alpine

Author

James Elson

Alpine has finally announced its commitment to the new LMDh rules, running in the new Hypercar class in WEC and therefore Le Mans from 2024.

The Renault-owned marque, which won the enduro classic overall with Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud in 1978, will enter two cars based on an ORECA chassis.

Alpine itself will develop the power unit, saying the engine “will benefit from all the expertise acquired in Formula 1”.

Furthermore, it asserts that Enstone will also help on the aerodynamic front.

Alpine ran a 2018 Renault Formula 1 car in its famous blue livery, driven by Fernando Alonso, as part of a celebration of the former marque before this year’s Le Mans.

Alpine WEC

Alpine currently runs in the Hypercar class with a ‘grandfathered’ Rebellion LMP1 chassis

Alpine

The French brand re-entered endurance racing after an absence of 35 years in 2013, with a team run by Signatech. The partnership yielded ELMS LMP2 driver and team championship wins in that year and the season after, plus a brace of WEC LMP2 crowns in ’16 and ’19.

It also took LMP2 Le Mans wins in ’16, ’18 and ’19, but now steps up to a La Sarthe top class that by 2024 will already include Audi, Porsche, Peugeot, Toyota, Acura, Ferrari, Cadillac, Glickenhaus and possibly BMW (so far only committed to IMSA).

Alpine currently runs in the Hypercar class with a ‘grandfathered’ Rebellion LMP1 chassis, but it remains unclear if it will be allowed to carry on doing so in ’22 and ’23.

The French manufacturer has stated that it has “started thinking about the continuation of the Endurance programme until 2024. The brand wants to remain involved in the FIA WEC World Championship in order to best prepare for its arrival in LMDh in 2024.”

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The ACO hopes the new rules will also encourage customers buying cars from manufacturers to compete in the top class. Whilst Alpine hasn’t confirmed its intention to sell cars to customer teams for definite, it has implied heavily it ultimately wishes to do so.

“The LMDh economic model is virtuous, as it facilitates the sale of cars to customer teams,” Alpine said. “This scheme allows Alpine to secure its commitment to endurance racing for four years.”

“Alpine’s Endurance programme highlights the brand’s commitment and ambition to motorsport,” Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi added. “By competing in both Formula 1 and Endurance, Alpine will be one of the rare brands competing in both of motorsport’s pinnacles. We will get the best out of Formula 1 and Endurance racing through technical and technological synergies to get the edge over prestigious rivals.”

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