Philippe Sinault, boss of the Alpine Endurance Team, looks back on the lessons of the 89th edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans and the prospects for his team for 2022 and 2023.
A podium and then go? Less than a month after her third place at the 24 hours of Le Mans, the future of the Alpine team in endurance remains open. On the occasion of the Sarthoise classic, the boss of the Renault group brand, Laurent Rossi, announced that a decision on the following seasons would be taken “before the end of the year”.
This will come as many manufacturers are preparing for their arrival in the world championship (WEC), such as Peugeot, Ferrari, Porsche or Audi… In addition, there are commitments from BMW or Cadillac, via the North American IMSA championship.
=> The final classification of the 24h of Le Mans 2021
=> What we already know about the Ferrari of the 24h of Le Mans
The Alpine A480 is no longer approved
The efforts of the French brand are now based on the Signatech structure, based in Bourges (Cher). Men and women led by Philippe Sinault had already won three times in the LMP2 category under the blue banner between 2016 and 2019. This year, the brand met Toyota directly in the Hypercar category for the first time. The Alpine A480 – derived from the Oreca 07 with a Gibson engine previously used by the Rebellion team – took third place in the general classification of the 24 hours of Le Mans thanks to the crew made up of Nicolas Lapierre, André Négrão and Matthieu Vaxivière.
“What is clear today, explains the boss, Philippe Sinault, is that our Alpine A480 is not approved for 2022. We are awaiting the positioning of the Alpine brand to confirm or deny its commitment in the Hypercar category for the years 23, 24 and maybe more […] If we have to come back to LMP2 to get through this transition period, we will.. The absolute key is not to create a stoppage, to keep a movement, to mobilize my teams to face other future challenges ”.
LMH or LMDh?
For 2023, two tracks exist. The premier class – known as Hypercar – will offer the choice between two platforms: LMDh or LMH. The first will offer manufacturers a controlled budget at the cost of little technical freedom. Conversely, the Le Mans Hypercar will offer more creativity but anger the accountants (the envelope will rise from 50 to 70 million euros per season for two cars, editor’s note).
=> LMh or LMDh: what are the differences?
” With the balance de performance, an LMH will have the same level of performance as an LMDh, explains Philippe Sinault, interviewed by Auto Moto. It will be up to our partner to decide which is the best profile or technical package to use ”. There are only a few months left to see if the new golden age of endurance will be tinged with blue.
To read on auto-moto.com:
Renault Megane Alpine: what are its chances of seeing the light of day?
Alpine A110 test Legend: all the way back!
What do we know about the future electric Alpine A110?
Philippe Sinault, boss of the Alpine Endurance Team, looks back on the lessons of the 89th edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans and the prospects for his team for 2022 and 2023.
A podium and then go? Less than a month after her third place at the 24 hours of Le Mans, the future of the Alpine team in endurance remains open. On the occasion of the Sarthoise classic, the boss of the Renault group brand, Laurent Rossi, announced that a decision on the following seasons would be taken “before the end of the year”.
This will come as many manufacturers are preparing for their arrival in the world championship (WEC), such as Peugeot, Ferrari, Porsche or Audi… In addition, there are commitments from BMW or Cadillac, via the North American IMSA championship.
=> The final classification of the 24h of Le Mans 2021
=> What we already know about the Ferrari of the 24h of Le Mans
The Alpine A480 is no longer approved
The efforts of the French brand are now based on the Signatech structure, based in Bourges (Cher). Men and women led by Philippe Sinault had already won three times in the LMP2 category under the blue banner between 2016 and 2019. This year, the brand met Toyota directly in the Hypercar category for the first time. The Alpine A480 – derived from the Oreca 07 with a Gibson engine previously used by the Rebellion team – took third place in the general classification of the 24 hours of Le Mans thanks to the crew made up of Nicolas Lapierre, André Négrão and Matthieu Vaxivière.
“What is clear today, explains the boss, Philippe Sinault, is that our Alpine A480 is not approved for 2022. We are awaiting the positioning of the Alpine brand to confirm or deny its commitment in the Hypercar category for the years 23, 24 and maybe more […] If we have to come back to LMP2 to get through this transition period, we will.. The absolute key is not to create a stoppage, to keep a movement, to mobilize my teams to face other future challenges ”.
LMH or LMDh?
For 2023, two tracks exist. The premier class – known as Hypercar – will offer the choice between two platforms: LMDh or LMH. The first will offer manufacturers a controlled budget at the cost of little technical freedom. Conversely, the Le Mans Hypercar will offer more creativity but anger the accountants (the envelope will rise from 50 to 70 million euros per season for two cars, editor’s note).
=> LMh or LMDh: what are the differences?
” With the balance de performance, an LMH will have the same level of performance as an LMDh, explains Philippe Sinault, interviewed by Auto Moto. It will be up to our partner to decide which is the best profile or technical package to use ”. There are only a few months left to see if the new golden age of endurance will be tinged with blue.
To read on auto-moto.com:
Renault Megane Alpine: what are its chances of seeing the light of day?
Alpine A110 test Legend: all the way back!
What do we know about the future electric Alpine A110?
