Alpine A424: The Hybrid Hypercar That Made Its Debut in Qatar

Alpine has unveiled its new hypercar that will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2024. The Alpine A424 is a hybrid prototype that combines a turbocharged V6 engine with an electric motor. The A424 is based on the Oreca LMP2 chassis and features a distinctive design inspired by Alpine’s heritage and identity. The car’s debut was at the Qatar 1812 Kilometers, the final round of the 2023 WEC season, where it completed a successful test session.

The A424: A New Chapter for Alpine

The A424 is the result of a close collaboration between Alpine, Oreca, and Mecachrome, with the support of Signatech, the team that runs Alpine’s racing operations. The car is designed to comply with the new LMDh regulations, which allow manufacturers to enter the Hypercar class of the WEC with a common hybrid system and a standardized chassis. The LMDh category aims to create a level playing field for different brands and technologies, as well as to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.

The A424 is Alpine’s first entry into the Hypercar class, the highest category of the WEC, and the one that competes for the overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most prestigious endurance race in the world. Alpine has a long and successful history in endurance racing, dating back to the 1960s when it won several class titles and trophies. In 1978, Alpine achieved its greatest feat by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the iconic A442B, driven by Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud.

Since then, Alpine has returned to the WEC in 2013, in partnership with Signatech, and has dominated the LMP2 category, winning four world titles and three Le Mans victories. In 2021, Alpine stepped up to the Hypercar class with the A480, a modified version of the Rebellion R13 LMP1 car, and challenged the likes of Toyota and Glickenhaus for the top honors. The A480 scored two wins and six podiums in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, finishing as the runner-up in the championship.

The A424 is a new chapter for Alpine, as it marks the first time that the brand has developed its own hypercar from scratch, with the ambition of replicating its 1978 triumph and becoming a major player in the global automotive scene. The A424 is also a showcase of Alpine’s engineering and design capabilities and its commitment to innovation and sustainability.

The A424: A Hybrid Powerhouse

The A424 is powered by a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.4-liter V6 single-turbo engine and a 50 kW electric motor. The engine is supplied by Mecachrome, a French company that specializes in high-performance engines and components. The engine is based on the one used in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, but has been heavily modified to suit the LMDh specifications and to deliver more power and reliability. The engine is mounted longitudinally in the middle of the car and drives the rear wheels.

The electric motor is part of the standard hybrid system that Bosch, Williams Advanced Engineering, and Xtrac provide. The system includes a battery, an inverter, a power electronics unit, and a gearbox. The electric motor is mounted on the rear axle and provides an additional boost of power and torque. The system also recovers energy from braking and stores it in the battery, which can be used to power the electric motor when needed. The hybrid system is controlled by software that optimizes the performance and efficiency of the car.

The total output of the hybrid powertrain is limited to 500 kW (680 hp) by the Balance of Performance (BOP) system, a set of rules that adjusts the performance of different cars to ensure fair and close competition. The BOP system considers various factors, such as weight, aerodynamics, fuel consumption, and hybrid energy deployment, and applies penalties or advantages to each car accordingly. The BOP system is updated throughout the season based on the results and data from each race.

The A424 also features a carbon fiber monocoque chassis based on the “next generation” Oreca LMP2 chassis. The chassis is designed to be lightweight, rigid, and safe and to comply with the LMDh and LMP2 regulations. The chassis also incorporates a safety cell, a roll cage, and a fuel tank. The chassis is covered by a carbon fiber bodywork, which Alpine’s sportscar design department designs. Alpine’s heritage and identity inspire the bodywork and feature some distinctive elements, such as the arrow-shaped A logo, the blue and white colors, and the rear lighting.

The Alpine A424 hypercar also has a sophisticated suspension system, which consists of double wishbones and pushrods at the front and rear. The suspension system is adjustable and allows the team to fine-tune the car’s handling and behavior according to the track conditions and preferences. The car also has a power steering system, which helps the driver to control the car more easily and precisely. The car is equipped with AP Racing carbon brakes, which provide excellent stopping power and endurance. The car also uses Michelin tires, which are specially developed for the LMDh category and offer optimal grip and durability.

The A424: A Successful Debut

The A424 made its public debut at the Qatar 1812 Kilometers, the final round of the 2023 WEC season, which took place on December 18, 2023, at the Losail International Circuit. The car was presented as a show car, named the A424_β (pronounced “A424 Beta”), and was driven by Alpine’s test driver Paul-Loup Chatin. The car completed a demonstration lap before the start of the race, as well as a test session after the race. The car was also displayed in the paddock area, where it attracted the attention of the fans and the media.

The debut of the A424 was the culmination of a seven-month development and testing program, which started in June 2023, when the car was first fired up at the Alpine factory in Dieppe, France. The car then underwent several tests at various circuits, such as Paul Ricard, Motorland, Jerez, Portimão, and Barcelona. The car also completed a 30-hour endurance test at Aragón, where it simulated the conditions of a 24-hour race. The testing program involved six drivers, who were announced as Alpine’s official drivers for the 2024 season. They are:

Paul-Loup Chatin, a French driver who has been Alpine’s test driver since 2019, has won several races and titles in the LMP2 category.
Ferdinand Habsburg, an Austrian driver who has competed in various single-seater and endurance championships, such as Formula 3, Formula 2, and DTM.
Nicolas Lapierre, a French driver who has been Alpine’s team leader since 2013, has won four world titles and three Le Mans victories in the LMP2 category.
Charles Milesi, a French driver who has been Alpine’s reserve driver since 2021 and has impressed in the LMP2 category, scoring two podiums in his debut season.
Mick Schumacher, a German driver who is the son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, won the Formula 2 title in 2020 and raced for Haas in Formula 1 in 2021 and 2022.
Matthieu Vaxivière, a French driver who has been Alpine’s simulator driver since 2019, has raced in various endurance championships, such as ELMS, WEC, and Asian Le Mans Series.

The debut and the test of the A424 were successful and positive, as the car performed well and reliably, and the drivers gave positive feedback. The car also received praise and compliments from the fans, the media, and the competitors, who were impressed by the car’s design and performance. The debut and the test also marked the end of the development phase and the start of the preparation phase for the 2024 season, which will begin in March 2024, with the 1000 Miles of Sebring.

The A424: A Future Champion?

The A424 is Alpine’s most ambitious and exciting project to date, as it represents the brand’s return to the highest level of endurance racing and its aspiration to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the WEC title. The A424 is a hybrid hypercar that combines a turbocharged V6 engine with an electric motor and is based on the Oreca LMP2 chassis. Alpine’s sportscar design department designs the A424 and features a distinctive design inspired by Alpine’s heritage and identity. The A424 is driven by a talented and experienced line-up of drivers who have been involved in the car’s development and testing.

The A424 faces a tough and competitive challenge, as it will compete against other hypercars from prestigious and established brands, such as Toyota, Peugeot, Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, and BMW. The A424 will also have to deal with the Balance of Performance system, which will adjust the performance of different cars to ensure fair and close competition. The A424 will also have to cope with the demands and difficulties of endurance racing, such as reliability, strategy, weather, traffic, and safety.