A podium arrived sooner than expected for Alpine at Fuji

In Japan, Alpine was masterful. Between qualifying and the race, the French team could not have hoped for a better result. The #36 provided a first podium in the World Endurance Championship. Even though, on paper, the #35 was in a better position. But a penalty at the end of the race came to spoil everything. Philippe Sinault, the head of Alpine Endurance, looks back on the Japanese weekend.

What does this first podium represent in the eyes of Alpine?

Overall, I don’t know. But for our environment, our team, and our project, a lot. It arrives earlier than what we had imagined, we must recognize that. But it still materializes strong signals from Sao Paulo on a good dynamic that we are trying to maintain and that we have maintained in Austin and Fuji.

We have made a lot of progress. We understand the car much better. The result is there to testify. We can play with the others. There are so many parameters to consider that it took us some time, but rightfully so. It’s only our first year. We had to digest all the information.

We were able to seize this opportunity that presented itself to us. It owes nothing to chance on the race events. It was built since both cars were able to play for the podium. The podium of the #36 rewards the work of the #35. The term is overused but it is a moment to mark with a cross in the life of the project. We have resumed our progression line and found serenity in our work.

When we look at the race, with the pace of the two cars, everything suggests that Alpine could have finished third and fourth.

Yes, after with ifs… But in reality, it’s the virtual safety car that costs us a lot because at that moment, the #35 no longer needs to stop while the Porsche and the BMW had to stop to make a splash. When we know that it takes 30 seconds to pass through the pits, it makes us imagine beautiful things.

A well-born car

What is important to remember is that both cars were involved. We had a very clean race with some commotion (for the #35). I think we will have to get used to some commotion at the back of the class. We will integrate it in a clearer way (laughs).

How did the team manage to make progress and understand the car? Because you went from struggling for points to fighting for the Top 5 and now, the podium?

The car is well born. If the results did not show up earlier, it is not due to the technical package. It’s more because of the team as we needed a learning period. It’s not a flaw or a weakness. It’s the project’s process. There are so many parameters to consider, it’s so different from what we have experienced in the past. There is the hybrid system, the power legal to comply with regulations. Also the tires, the temperature setting, the choice of compounds. Now, we handle these parameters better.

Bahrain is arriving in a little over a month. What can we expect from Alpine there? Is it a favorable circuit for the A424?

I believe that today, with the basic setup, there are no longer circuits that suit or do not suit the car. I think that the car, from what we know, as soon as we put it on the ground, it will be in the mix. It will not be off the pace like at Imola where it took us a long time to catch up. With our level of knowledge, it shouldn’t happen again.

« When you look at the list of drivers, you know that there is no painter, only good ones. So, you think that it is a championship that is becoming very open. All the manufacturers have led a race this year. »

Now, we must not fall into the trap. We appreciate this podium in Fuji, but it is not, so to speak, normal. In our progression, it was not considered achievable. We must stay grounded. We still have work to do to consistently compete for podiums. Finish races with both cars. And logic would dictate that we are in the points. Knowing that in Bahrain, the real issue is tire degradation.

It is a problem that will affect everyone

Exactly. Our competitors have more experience on this subject even if I dare say that we have taken a step and we have understood a lot of things.

By analyzing the season, we can see that Toyota and Porsche are standing out from the rest. But manufacturers like Alpine, Cadillac with its pole, and Peugeot, with its result in Fuji, could also get involved in the fight for the podium. Is this a good omen for 2025 to have an even tougher and more contested competition?

That’s exactly it. When we look at Fuji, what I remember is the level of performance and the homogeneity of the field. But from everyone. At the beginning of the race, we fight with the Lambo. In the middle of the race, we are with the Peugeots. And the pace of each one, at a certain point in the race, with the tires and the fuel level, was very high-performing. There is a grouping of the performance level of each. When we look at the list of drivers, you know that there are no beginners, only good ones. So, you tell yourself that it’s a championship that is becoming very open. All manufacturers have led a race this year.

The technical framework and regulations are starting to be mature. These are very good signals that we are sending, and Fuji is the most accomplished expression of what the WEC will be in 2025. It’s going to be fantastic.

Several times, Jules Gounon took the wheel of the Alpine. What can we remember from his work and his commitment?

First, I thanked him. He did not take it as an additional program to the one he already has. He showed real commitment and true dedication. It was not easy for him to come. Especially in a context like this where he replaced Ferdi (Ferdinand Habsburg, victim of an accident that fractured two vertebrae). We are all human. He was not ready for the two races before Le Mans (Imola and Spa).

Is Jules Gounon behind the wheel in Bahrain?

Our program with him was clear. As soon as we could get him to run, we did. For Fuji, we had planned well in advance that he would come to support Paul-Loup (Chatin). Even with Ferdi’s replacement, we were determined to have him run and fulfill our commitments.

I do not know if you have seen, but the lap times were very good. It’s at the level. We had no doubt. It’s better doing it and he did it. He has an approach with a lot of humility. It’s appreciable. He ticked all the boxes at Fuji. We are starting to have a mature driver.

Our colleagues at Motorsport.com announced he would be behind the wheel in Bahrain. Can you tell us more?

No, I am not allowed to say anything. But of course, we are reflecting. As we speak, my subject is the pilots. There is the grape harvest period and the pilots’ period. It’s normal, we are in September (laughs).

We are asking ourselves a lot of questions and studying all the alternatives in the interest of the project. We are reflecting, but we will soon come out of the woods.

What about IMSA?

Has the work for 2025 already started? Whether it is for the line-up or potential evolutions for the car.

Pilots 2025, yes, we have started. Since Le Mans. But not just for the pilots, it’s at all levels. Whether it’s the team, sports level, even in organization. We have an organization today, which will evolve to be better in 2025. We did a first assessment at the end of this summer to identify the strengths, where we need to progress. There are many topics.

For pilots, we are working on 2025, yes. But also 2026. We are fortunate with Alpine to have this medium/long-term visibility. So, we are laying the groundwork for the rest of the project.

During the presentation of the A424, Bruno Famin (director of Alpine motorsport) mentioned Alpine’s arrival in IMSA in 2025. Is this still relevant?

It would be necessary to ask the question to the Alpine shop. If one day, there is the presence of an A424 in Alpine, it must be correlated with a commercial activation or a commercial strategy. That’s not my subject today.

But if tomorrow Alpine decides to go to the American continent to sell cars, we will be ready. But the technical package will be eligible immediately. If one day, you see an entry list at Daytona for example, and Alpine is there, you will say, “Oh, there is a commercial project behind it”. The goal is not to do a one-shot.

If I am told to go running in IMSA, I’m not going to be picky, I’ll go.

It’s a very high-level and competitive championship.

Clearly. It would be a great motivation, but there are different codes from those of the WEC. But if it were to happen, we would go there with a lot of humility. But honestly, that’s not the point. We have so much to do in the WEC, honestly. It takes time, I promise you.