L’Alpine A424 represents a new chapter in Alpine’s history in the world of endurance racing. With its innovative design, its cutting-edge technology and the talent of its team, Alpine has everything it takes to become a protagonist of the sport in the years to come. After participating in the first three rounds of FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), theAlpine Endurance Team participated for the first time in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the brand new A424. However, the race for the French team ended with a bittersweet outcome. On the one hand, the French Hypercar has demonstrated exceptional potentialtaking fifth place in the Hyperpole with Paul-Loup Chatin and fighting for the podium in the first hours of the race. On the other, a double withdrawal due to mechanical problems it thwarted the team’s ambitions, leaving a veil of bitterness at the end of an emotional weekend.
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Alpine A424 Hypercar features
The Alpine A424 represents the return of the French brand to the top of automotive enduranceafter the experience in LMP2 with the A470. Designed and developed by Alpine in collaboration with the Signatech teamthe A424 stands out for its cutting-edge hybrid technology and for a highly efficient aerodynamic design. Worthy successor to the Renault Alpine A442 which won the 24 Hours in 1978, the A424 inherits from this the engineering choice of adopting a single turbo for its 3.4-liter V6 engine designed to Viry-Chatillon and combined with the LMDh category hybrid system with battery developed by Williams. From an aesthetic point of view, the Hypercar prefigures the future Alpine light signature on a front, while the rear reveals 2 A shaped arrow on the headlights.
In particular the 90 degree V thruster of around 500 kW/675 HP is placed in a central-longitudinal position on a chassis created in collaboration with Oreca. The gearbox is a sequential Xtrac with 7 gears, while the Hybrid MGU develops 50 kW. The car measures 5 meters in length, 2 meters in width and is 1.06 m high with a wheelbase of 3.15 m and weighs 1,030 kg according to the BoP. Carbon brake discs get bitten by 6-piston monobloc caliperswhile the suspensions are push-rod type. Finally the tires are supplied by Michelinfor all teams, and mounted on 18-inch rims costing over 2,000 euros each!
From qualifying to warm-up
The Qualifying on Wednesday immediately highlighted the potential of the A424. Paul-Loup Chatin won the Hyperpole with a masterful lap, placing himself in fourth place while Nicolas Lapierre finished ninth out of twenty-three Hypercars entered in the Championship. He also brought home another important result on Thursday Paul-Loup Chatin managing to place the A424 number 35 in fifth place of the starting grid, confirming the team’s expectations and igniting the enthusiasm of the fans. In parallel, Alpine presented the new A290the first compact electric road vehicle from the French company.
On Friday the drivers were able to take a moment of rest welcomed by the warmth of the public with the afternoon parade which took place in the city center of Le Mans. During the event one twenty Alpine driven by customers, from the first A106 to the latest A110, they accompanied the parade of drivers aboard classic cars. The company also thought of enriching this frame of celebration Alpine Alpenglow concept car, a hydrogen-powered supercar, which also paraded among the stands set up for the occasion. Finally on Saturday at midday the two Alpine A424s driven by Charles Milesi and Nicolas Lapierre took to the track again to face the fifteen minute warm-up and acquire additional data to make final adjustments.
Alpine A424 competing at Le Mans
There race started on Saturday at 4pm with the go-ahead given by the former footballer Zinedine Zidane, ambassador of the Alpine program for equal opportunities, who took a lap of the track aboard the new Renault Rafale and greeted the large crowd from the stands. From the pits there was no shortage of support from Luca de MeoCEO of the Renault Group, and the drivers of the BWT Alpine F1 Team, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. Charles Milesi in the #35 and Nicolas Lapierre, at the wheel of the #36, started with a certain caution but maintaining a good race pace. In particular, Lapierre moved up from ninth to fourth position in the first two stints. There rain it invariably made its appearance at nightfall; so the team decided to remove the slick tires and put on wet ones, ahead of the others, a choice which however slowed them down given the little initial rain.
Paul-Loup Chatin in the number 35 and Mick Schumacher (son of Michael) in the other took the wheel for the third stint, keeping close to the leading group. Ferdinand Habsburg and Matthieu Vaxiviere respectively replaced them, but bad luck struck #35: Engine failure caused the car to be retired at 8.46pm. The #36, with Matthieu Vaxiviere and then Nicolas Lapierre at the wheel, continued its run, approaching the top ten. However, so does this car was the victim of the same mechanical problemforcing her to retire at 9:36 p.m.
Growing future for Alpine in the WEC
Despite the disappointment of the retirements, Alpine Endurance Team can still draw positive ideas from this debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. L’Hyperpole conquered and the pace promising demonstrated in the race are proof of the potential of the A424. With invaluable knowledge of how the A424 operates in race conditions, the team is already working to analyze the causes of the mechanical problems and has identified the areas that need to be addressed to improve the reliability of the car. The next events of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be an opportunity to make up for the disappointment of Le Mans and achieve important results. Appointment with the Alpine Endurance Team at 6 Hours of Sao Paulo (12-14 July), fifth round of the 2024 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Alpine A424 TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
- Structure: carbon shell and honeycomb
- Bodywork: carbon
- Suspensions: double triangle push-rod
- Steering: Electric power steering
- Length: 5,000 mm
- Width: 1,998 mm
- Height: 1,058 mm
- Wheelbase: 3,148 mm
- Mass: approx. 1,030 kg (according to BOP)
Motor
- Configuration: 90° single-turbo V6
- Displacement: 3,400 cm3
- Maximum power: approx. 500 kW / 675 hp (according to BOP)
- Maximum speed: approximately 9,000 rpm
- Hybridization: Bosch standard / 50 kW
- Lubrication: Dry sump/stage oil pump
- Electronic control unit: Marelli
Transmission
- Brand: Xtrac
- Type: transverse
- Gear change: paddle on the steering wheel and pneumatic control
- Gear ratios: 7 + reverse
Wheels
- Front tyres: Michelin 29-71/R18
- Rear tires: Michelin 34-71/R18
- Front rims: 12.5”x18”
- Rear rims: 14”x18”
Brakes
- Discs: ventilated carbon
- Calipers: 6-piston monobloc
Safety
- Harness: six-point, suitable for the Hans system
- Tank: flexible and safe with integrated reserve system
Photo Alpine A424 at Le Mans
Read also:
→ Alpine A290
→ Alpine Alpenglow hydrogen
→ All the news from the Alpine brand
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