Alpine, the legendary French sports car brand, is back in the spotlight with its ambitious project to compete in the top FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) category in 2024. The Alpine A424 hybrid hypercar combines cutting-edge technology, stunning design, and racing heritage. We will take a closer look at the Alpine A424, its features, its performance, and its prospects for the future.
What is the Alpine A424?
The Alpine A424 is a Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) sports prototype racing car that will compete in the Le Mans Hypercar class of the WEC. The Le Mans Hypercar class is the new premier category of endurance racing, replacing the previous LMP1 class. The LMDh cars are based on a common chassis and hybrid system but can have different engines and bodywork. The Alpine A424 is built on an Oreca LMP2 chassis with a 3.4-liter V6 turbocharged engine and a 50 kW electric motor. The car has a total output of 680 horsepower and weighs 1,030 kg.
The Alpine A424 hybrid hypercar is the successor of the Alpine A480, which competed in the LMP1 class in 2021 and 2022. The A480 was a rebadged version of the Rebellion R13, also based on an Oreca chassis. The Alpine A480 achieved impressive results, winning two races and finishing second in the 2021 championship. However, the A480 was not a true Alpine car, as it had no connection with the brand’s road cars or history. The A424, the other hand, is a fully Alpine project with a unique engine, bodywork, and identity.
What are the features of the Alpine A424?
The Alpine A424 is a striking car that blends modern and retro elements. The car’s design was inspired by the Alpine A442B, the car that won the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans, the only overall victory for Alpine so far. The A424 has a similar blue and white color scheme, a large rear wing, and a distinctive arrow-shaped A on the nose and the tail. The car also has some futuristic touches, such as LED lights, aerodynamic fins, and a sleek cockpit.
The Alpine A424 is also a technologically advanced car incorporating the latest hybrid powertrain, chassis, and electronics innovations. The car’s engine is a modified version of the Mecachrome V634 used in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. The engine has a single turbocharger, unlike the twin-turbo configuration of most LMDh cars. The engine is paired with a standard hybrid system, which consists of a Bosch electric motor, a Williams battery, and an Xtrac gearbox. The hybrid system can provide an extra boost of power on demand and recover energy from braking.
The car’s chassis is a next-generation Oreca LMP2 chassis, which is lighter and stiffer than the previous version. The chassis is made of carbon fiber and honeycomb and has a double wishbone suspension with pushrods. The car’s bodywork is also made of carbon fiber and has been optimized for aerodynamics and cooling. The car has a large front splitter, side skirts, a rear diffuser, air intakes, outlets on the hood, doors, and engine cover. The car’s wheels are 18-inch forged alloys, with Michelin tires and AP Racing brakes.
The car’s electronics are also state-of-the-art, with a Magneti Marelli ECU, a Bosch ABS, and a Motec telemetry system. The car has a digital dashboard, a multifunction steering wheel, and a six-point harness. The car also has a safety rubber fuel tank, a fire extinguisher system, and a rear-view camera.