24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 – Manufacturer’s perspectives: Alpine
The first free practice sessions of the 92nd edition will start this Wednesday: the opportunity to assess, before the serious things begin, what the approximately fourteen manufacturers involved in Hypercar and LMGT3 can hope for. Alpine is making its return to the top class, this time with a proper Hypercar. And measured ambitions.
The victories had lined up like pearls at Le Mans for Alpine during its LMP2 years. The temporary move to Hypercar, with a restricted LMP1, and then the transition to P2 last year brought less success, but it was to better prepare for the arrival in the top tier of world endurance racing. This brings the number of French manufacturers involved in the WEC this year to two, alongside Peugeot.
In this case, the sublime A424 N°35 and N°36 came to Le Mans to write a new beautiful page in Alpine’s history.
It should also be noted that, thanks to wise races since the beginning of the season, the Dieppe brand is in a surprising 4th place in the constructors’ championship. Car number 35 had entered the points twice, while the other brands struggled to score big points.
Obviously, the Alpine drivers had pointed it out: the priority is Le Mans. The teams, especially the strategists, had organized a delightful race last year in LMP2, coming very close to a podium. And Philippe Sinault’s troops would like to see the work done beforehand put into action.
The two trios of drivers are of high quality. On N°35, Ferdinand Habsburg is making his comeback after two races of absence, alongside Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup Chatin. The sister car, on the other hand, will benefit from the great experience of Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxivière. Mick Schumacher, on his part, will follow in his father’s footsteps for his first time at Le Mans.
Some indicators are in the green, but it is important to stay realistic: Alpine is only starting with its Hypercar and only racing facts could allow it to compete with the leaders. It will be a learning experience over 24 hours, which will certainly have an impact so that, by next year, it might possibly commit to IMSA.
This will also be an opportunity for Oreca, the supplier of Alpine’s chassis, to showcase its expertise in endurance racing. Proof was provided through Acura, across the Atlantic, that the French firm knew how to provide winning equipment. It would be a great victory for Hugues de Chaunac, Oreca’s boss, to bring back points from Le Mans, on the first outing of the Hypercar in Sarthe.
