Alpine A424 Explained

Alpine A424
Category:Le Mans Daytona h
Constructor:Alpine (Oreca)
Predecessor:Alpine A480
Renault Alpine A442
Electric Motor:Rear-mounted spec MGU supplied by Bosch
Team: Alpine Endurance Team
Chassis:LMP2-based carbon fibre monocoque with honeycomb shell
Competition:FIA World Endurance Championship
Engine Name:Alpine-modified Mecachrome V634
Configuration:90° V6
Capacity:3.40NaN0
Turbo/Na:turbocharged
Engine Position:mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted
Poles:0
Debut:2024 Qatar 1812 km
Designer:Raphaël Linari (Chief Exterior Designer)[1]
Christophe Chapelain (Project Chief Engineer)[2]
Races:3
Wins:0
Podiums:0
Fuel:TotalEnergies
Brakes:AP Racing carbon with AP Racing Monobloc 6-piston calipers
Lubricants:Elf
Tyres:Michelin slicks with one-piece forged alloys, 29/71-18 front and 34/71-18 rear
Fastest Laps:0
Last Event:2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
Front Suspension:Double wishbones, pushrods with power steering
Rear Suspension:Double wishbones, pushrods
Gearbox Name:Xtrac P1359
Gears:7-speed
Transmission Type:sequential manual[3]

The Alpine A424[4] is an LMDh sports prototype racing car designed by Automobiles Alpine and built by Oreca to compete in the Le Mans Hypercar class in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Background

On 5 October 2021, Alpine formally announced an entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship starting from the 2024 season, using an LMDh-compliant racing design.[5] It was also confirmed on the same day that Oreca was chosen as the chassis supplier for their LMDh contender.[6]

Alpine unveiled a prototype show car, named the A424_β (pronounced "A424 Beta"[7]), on 9 June 2023, at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was also announced that the car would use a hybrid powertrain, consisting of a Mecachrome V6 single turbocharged internal combustion engine and standardized hybrid drivetrain components provided by Williams Advanced Engineering, Bosch and Xtrac, and that Signatech would run two cars.[8]

The car is built on the "next generation" Oreca LMP2 chassis. The A424's engine is said to be a "heavily modified" version of the Mecachrome V634 engine used in the FIA Formula 2 Championship; Alpine confirmed that the car's engine was unrelated to the engine briefly used in the Ginetta G60-LT-P1 LMP1 car in 2018. Dyno tests for the engine were completed on 28 June.[9] The car was first fired up on July 5. The aim for the program is to complete 2 shakedown tests at Lurcy-Lévis at the end of August, following which the car will embark on its first test. The test programme will involve running at Circuit Paul Ricard, Motorland Aragón, Jerez and Portimão.[10] The car will compete in 2024 as the A424.

Alpine unveiled their driver lineup for 2024 on 22 November 2023.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

YearEntrantsClassDrivers12345678Points
2024Alpine Endurance TeamHypercarQATIMOSPALMNSAPCOAFUJBHR254th
Paul-Loup Chatin358139Ret12
Charles Milesi8139Ret12
Ferdinand Habsburg8Ret12
Jules Gounon139
Nicolas Lapierre36121612Ret10
Mick Schumacher121612Ret10
Matthieu Vaxivière121612Ret10

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alpine A424 Le Mans hypercar makes public debut. James. Taylor. 18 June 2023. 13 July 2023. Evo. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713092604/https://www.evo.co.uk/alpine/205950/alpine-a424-le-mans-hypercar-revealed. live.
  2. Web site: Christophe Chapelain (Alpine A424): "The best LMDh while anticipating future BoP changes". 18 June 2023. 13 July 2023. en.endurance-info.com/. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713095820/https://en.endurance-info.com/auto/article/107593-christophe-chapelain-alpine-a424-best-lmdh-while-anticipating-future-bop. live.
  3. Web site: 671-HP Alpine A424_β Hypercar Is On Track For Le Mans 2024. Chris. Chilton. 9 June 2023. 13 July 2023. Carscoops. 9 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230609123037/https://www.carscoops.com/2023/06/671-hp-alpine-a424_%CE%B2-hypercar-is-on-track-for-le-mans-2024/. live.
  4. Web site: Alpine launches 2024 Hypercar, the A424_β, at Le Mans. Phil. Oakley. 9 June 2023. 13 July 2023. Motorsportweek. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713092603/https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/06/09/alpine-launches-2024-hypercar-the-a424_%CE%B2-at-le-mans/. live.
  5. Web site: Renault's Alpine announces new endurance entry from 2024. Alan. Baldwin. 6 October 2021. 13 July 2023. Reuters. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713092602/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/renaults-alpine-announces-new-endurance-entry-2024-2021-10-05/. live.
  6. Web site: Alpine chooses an ORECA chassis to compete in LMDh starting in 2024. 6 October 2021. 13 July 2023. Oreca. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713092604/https://www.oreca.com/en/news_oreca/alpine-chooses-oreca-chassis-compete-lmdh-starting-2024/. live.
  7. Web site: Alpine A424_β endurance racer revealed. Staff. 18 June 2023. 13 July 2023. Drive. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713084212/https://www.drive.com.au/news/alpine-a424-endurance-racer-revealed/. live.
  8. Web site: Alpine launches A424 Beta LMDh car for 2024 WEC campaign. Jamie. Klein. 9 June 2023. 13 July 2023. Autosport. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713095818/https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/alpine-launches-a424-beta-lmdh-car-for-2024-wec-campaign/10480582/. live.
  9. Web site: New Alpine A424 Hypercar will use 'heavily modified' version of F2 engine. Phil. Oakley. 16 June 2023. 13 July 2023. Motorsportweek. 13 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713093402/https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/06/16/new-alpine-a424-hypercar-will-use-heavily-modified-version-of-f2-engine/. live.
  10. Web site: First Shakedown Imminent For Alpine A424 LMDh dailysportscar.com . 2023-08-01 . www.dailysportscar.com . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801101153/https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/08/01/shakedown-imminent-for-alpine-lmdh.html . live .