Victor Martins returns to the wheel of theAlpine A424 in Portimão

The 2026 World Championship seasonEndurance The Qatar Grand Prix is ​​fast approaching, with the 1812 km race scheduled for March 28th at the Losail circuit. While awaiting this event, and the Prologue (March 22nd-23rd), manufacturers are continuing their preparations. In particular Alpine Since the French manufacturer was present for testing near Portimão (Portugal), the company with the arrow-shaped A took the opportunity to run its A424 in its 2026 configuration with Ferdinand Habsburg, Frédéric Makowiecki, and Victor Martins.

The former pilot of Formula 2 He was thus able to get back into the swing of things behind the wheel of a prototype which he had already had the opportunity to drive in November 2024 during the Rookie Test of the WEC in Bahrain. It was also an opportunity for the French driver to set his wheels on the Algarve International Circuit for the first time. 

« It was a very special moment to get back behind the wheel of theAlpine A424 and discover Portimão, Victor Martins confided this. I was impressed by the car's performance, particularly in terms of downforce and power. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the precision it demands, especially under braking and corner entry. There's definitely an adjustment period, with a lot to learn about the different systems, but the work done so far has been very positive. »

« Ferdinand and Frédéric shared their experience to accelerate my integration, help me progress, and make me operational. adds Victor Martins. The team is extremely professional, with genuine passion and great ambitions for the project. This motivates me even more, and I can't wait to continue working with them, both in the simulator and on the track, to be fully prepared for the first race in Qatar. »

« Particular attention was also paid to Victor's integration, with driving sessions that allowed him to discover the car in different conditions, including at night.Philippe Sinault, the team director, also explains Alpine EnduranceTeam. In total, we completed 1250 kilometers, providing a wealth of information that we will now analyze in detail, with a particular focus on the new tires. We will look to confirm these initial findings during our next session at the end of February at Motorland Aragón. These tests were productive, and the initial feedback is quite positive for the 2026 season. »

Meanwhile, Alpine will unveil the liveries of its A424s and the allocation of its crews for the 2026 season on Wednesday, February 18.

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