THEAlpine LMDh expected on track in summer 2023

After two seasons in the Hypercar category of WEC with its Alpine A480-Gibson, the French manufacturer will temporarily withdraw from the premier category of theEndurance to better return to it in 2024. After having participated in the World Championship with a rebadged ex-LM P1, it is with a prototype meeting LMDh regulations that the Norman brand will aim for victory in the general classification of 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French manufacturer has already announced its association with Oreca for the chassis design (the Signes company has already produced that of Acura's LMDh) while the engine will be developed at Viruses-Châtillon.

An LMDh on the Alpenglow model?

The A arrow took advantage of the Paris Motor Show (October 17-23) to show a glimpse of its future in motorsport with the Alpenglow. A concept car which therefore foreshadows the future French LMDh. “The quality of the Apenglow is to foreshadow certain features of our Hypercar in 2024, explained Philippe Sinault, the main team ofAlpine Elf Endurance Team on the occasion of the preview of the official film of the 24 2022 Hours of Le Mans. We intend to field two cars. The design teamAlpine recently came to our workshops to present their results and it was an important moment of collaboration. We are booming. »

Discover Alpenglow, our innovative concept car combining the use of hydrogen and the sporting DNA ofAlpine.
The future starts here!

More info ➡️ https://t.co/WFkwEAIPb5 pic.twitter.com/xQuucR8Mol

— Alpine Cars FR (@AlpineCarsFR) October 13, 2022

While waiting for this new hypercar, Alpine will compete in LM P2 next season. Whether with one or two prototypes, technical operation will always be ensured by Signatech. The drivers have not yet been confirmed, but it is already certain that Nicolas lapierre will not be one, although this does not mark the end of the collaboration between the Haut-Savoyard and the brand with the arrowed A. The 38-year-old driver will focus in 2023 on his COOL Racing team, which will participate in the Asian Le Mans Series as well as theELMS, but will be an important element in the development of the tricolor prototype.

“More than a year ago, I took the reins of COOL Racing, recalls Nicolas Lapierre. I will be very busy with this team, but I will participate in the development of the new Alpine which will hit the track in the summer of 2023. It's a wonderful project and I can't wait to discover it. I was part of the journey ofAlpine almost since his return to endurance racing. We were able to win in LM P2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times. The team has matured a lot over the last two years while fighting against Toyota and Glickenhaus. We have a lot of ambitions for 2024.”

« Alpine absolutely wants to continue with Nico, and us too, Philippe Sinault told AUTOhebdo during the 8 Hours of Bahrain, the final round of the 2022 WEC season. It therefore remains in the overall project. He will ride with his COOL Racing team in 2023, but he remains with us for the entire development part around the LMDh to prepare for the future. » With two cars planned for 2024 in the Hypercar category, many drivers are eyeing a place behind the wheel, notably Charles Milesi and Lilou Wadoux, who competed in 2022 with the Richard Mille Racing Team, a team which will not continue the adventure next season. “We enjoy training them and we inevitably imagine what’s next together”, explains the boss of the Berruyer team. If they are part of the possible recruitment spectrum, this also extends to single-seater drivers, in particular those members of theAlpine Academy or affiliates. 

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