Alpine has officially announced its lineups for the 2024 World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar category. The new addition is Jules Gounon, notable in GT with Mercedes, as the reserve driver.
During the presentation of the A424 Hypercar design, it was revealed that car #35 will be driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, Charles Milesi, and Ferdinand Habsburg, while car #36 will be piloted by Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere, and Mick Schumacher, the latter making his debut in endurance racing. Gounon joins as the reserve driver for the Signatech-operated team, which returns to the Hypercar division after its last participation in 2022 with the A480 LMP1, formerly known as Rebellion R13.
Gounon expressed his enthusiasm: "I was really looking forward to experiencing the Alpine A424. I would like to thank Mercedes-AMG for giving me this opportunity with Alpine. Many of the GT greats I've competed against over the years are now in Hypercars. I've always dreamed of this. I remember my father [Jean-Marc], who raced in LMP1 in 2005, and I promised myself that I would do everything I could to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a prototype. Although I'm now a reserve driver, I hope to work well and continue to improve to get closer to that goal in the future."
The car, developed in conjunction with ORECA, will make its debut at the WEC season opener in Qatar on March 2nd. Team principal Phillipe Sinault expressed his confidence in the V6-powered machine and its drivers. "Our lineups reflect our desire for alchemy and the importance of the human factor in the project's success. We've made no compromises, and our first draft of the lineup is now a reality. Speaking with Bruno Famin on the subject was gratifying, as we agreed immediately. They are all tremendously high-quality drivers with experience, commitment, and high expectations. I have confidence in this team, which is ideal for writing this new chapter for Alpine in Hypercar."
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