Alpine has revealed its new LMDh race car, the A424, that will compete in the premier Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2024. The car results from a close collaboration between Automobiles Alpine and Oreca, and features a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged V6 engine and a standardized electric motor. The A424 aims to replicate Alpine’s famous 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, targeting overall honours in the highly contested new Hypercar category.
Alpine’s History and Heritage in Endurance Racing
Alpine first entered Endurance racing 61 years ago, giving its new adventure an enthralling and emotional backstory. After its iconic A442B claimed Le Mans victory in 1978, it returned to WEC in 2013 alongside Signatech. World titles in the LMP2 category followed while its A480 stepped up to the series’ highest category in 2021 and 2022, claiming memorable wins, podiums and a vice-champion world title.
Alpine’s Partnership with Oreca and Mecachrome
Extending its close-knit collaboration, the A424 combines the knowhow of Alpine Racing and Signatech with the unique styling of its sportscar design department. The result is a prototype that stands proud of its competitors. Its unmistakeably Alpine aesthetic exhibits some enticing design details which make it both efficient and beautiful to look at.
The A424 is built on the “next generation” Oreca LMP2 chassis. Alpine Racing’s experts in Viry-Châtillon worked with engine partner Mecachrome to produce a 3.4-litre V6 single turbocharged internal combustion engine. Its single-turbo layout is unique in the Hypercar category. The car also uses standardized hybrid drivetrain components provided by Williams Advanced Engineering, Bosch and Xtrac.
Alpine’s Testing and Racing Program for the A424
The Alpine A424 has spent seven months testing, with sessions at Circuit Paul Ricard, Motorland, Jerez, PortimĂŁo and Barcelona. The testing program included a full 30-hour endurance practice in AragĂłn to help replicate the gruelling conditions of round-the-clock racing. The car will compete in 2024 as the A424. Alpine unveiled its driver lineup for 2024 on 22 November 2023, featuring a mix of experienced and young talents. The car will debut at the Qatar Airways Qatar 1812km in March 2024, and will face fierce competition from other Hypercar manufacturers such as Toyota, Glickenhaus, Porsche, Audi and Peugeot. The car will also race at iconic venues such as Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Fuji and Bahrain.
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