For the past two seasons, Renault’s sports marque has competed with the old LMP1 A480-Gibson, which was previously the Rebellion R-13.
However, the car had to obtain an exemption to be on the grid in 2022 against the Hypercars of Toyota, Glickenhaus and (from Monza) Peugeot, and will not be able to compete in 2023 with the arrival of the new projects from Porsche, Ferrari and Cadillac.
Alpine has already confirmed that it is building an LMDh around the new Oreca LMP2 frame and now Philippe Sinault, whose Team Signatech manages the Alpine WEC program, has made it clear that the French brand intends to continue racing in 2023 instead of taking a year off. which can only mean a return to LMP2.
“In 2023 we will be present and we will compete for something, but not with this LMP1 car and not in the Hypercar Class – said Sinault – To be clear, the plan is not yet official, but it is quite easy to imagine”.
“It’s not all clear yet, but our goal is to be on the starting grid and have something to celebrate.”
Alpine scored its first WEC LMP2 title in 2016 with Nicolas Lapierre, Gustavo Menezes and Stephane Richelmi with an Oreca 05
Alpine won the WEC LMP2 title in 2016 with Nicolas Lapierre, Gustavo Menezes and Stéphane Richelmi with an Oreca 05 and boasts a record of successes in the category also at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2016, 2018 and 2019, plus the championship in the “Super Season. “2018-19.
The return to LMP2 would also allow her to maintain her long-standing relationship with Oreca during the transition year prior to the debut of her as-yet-unnamed LMDh car.
Sinault added that he hopes to maintain the current driver line-up of Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxivière and André Negrao, who currently lead the WEC driver standings, despite a troubled race at Le Mans last weekend, which ended fifth in the Hypercar class (fourth among the cars entered in points).
“I’m lucky because it’s very easy to manage these three riders. It’s really a pleasure and that’s why I wanted to have them again this year. Of course my desire is to continue working with the three of them.”
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