Yahoo Autos Alpine launches A424 Hypercar
French automotive manufacturer Alpine has unveiled the look of its A424 Hypercar at its Enstone base in the UK that will take part in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
The new livery was shown off alongside the reveal of its latest Formula 1 car, the A524, as part of a dual launch for the brand’s top-level programs.
This year sees Alpine, Renault’s sporting brand, return to the Hypercar class of the FIA WEC with two A424s run by the Signatech outfit. The A424 is an LMDh-spec prototype based on an LMP2 spine from ORECA, powered by a 3.4-liter turbo V6 Mecachrome engine.
Bruno Famin, vice president of Alpine Motorsport, was on hand at the conference to introduce the two cars to members of the media on-site and fans over a live stream.
“I am proud that Alpine is one of only two manufacturers [along with Ferrari -Ed.] with representative cars in both Formula 1 and at the top of endurance racing,” he said.
The A424 is set to make its global race debut at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar next month, in the opening round of the 2024 WEC season. As it stands it is the only LMDh prototype that will not race in IMSA’s GTP class this year.
Drivers Paul Loup Chatin, Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg will share the No. 35 this season. Nicolas Lappiere, Mick Schumacher and Matthieu Vaxiviere will steer the No. 36.
In addition, Jules Gounon has been named as a reserve driver for the program. The Frenchman was named recently as a 2024 Mercedes-AMG factory driver, competing mainly in GT3 competition.
Gounon’s role may turn out to be particularly important as Mick Schumacher is the reserve driver for the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team. Any duties for that role will take precedence over his commitments with Alpine in the WEC.
