Nicolas Lapierre hangs up his helmet
A major chapter in endurance racing is about to come to a close: French driver Nicolas Lapierre, Alpine WEC driver, announced on Instagram that the 6 Hours of Fuji was his last race. The end of an immense career for a man who will not be far away nonetheless.
Nicolas Lapierre is a big name in French motorsport, especially in endurance. The native of Thonon-les-Bains has always been immersed in motorsport and has made his way through the biggest races in the world. He announced on Wednesday, October 2, that he is ending his career with immediate effect.
After going through single-seaters, including the GP2 Series, he started endurance racing in 2007 with a team that he would follow closely or from afar throughout his career: Oreca, with whom he achieved most of his successes in endurance.
All his participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans have been under the watchful eye of Hugues de Chaunac, the boss of the French team. Only the 2008 edition has been missed since his debut in endurance, where Oreca’s boss led him.
Between 2007 and 2024, his last participation, Nicolas Lapierre clinched six podiums, including four wins, at KCMG with Alpine in LMP2. The Frenchman also had the opportunity to become a factory driver twice in his career.
His path led him to Toyota during the heyday of LMP1: he raced there for four seasons, including three consecutive ones between 2012 and 2014. It was during this last year that he clinched his first podium in the overall standings, finishing in 3rd place.
The following has recently been revealed: Nicolas Lapierre, through his unwavering loyalty to Alpine in LMP2, has logically been chosen to join the Hypercar team, in the No.36 car. And as a symbol, his final act as a driver will have been to bring Alpine its first podium in the top category, at the 6 Hours of Fuji, which therefore was his last race.
After many thanks, the French driver concluded his Instagram video with these words:
« It was an honor for me to live my passion for so many years, to do what I love the most. It’s time to start a new chapter in my life. A new chapter on the other side of the pit wall. A side of the race that I particularly cherish as much as being a race driver. So I will never be far away. » A beautiful promise after a particularly rich career.
