Two Alpine A424 cars at Portimao - final test session of the year

Two Alpine A424s and the complete line-up at Portimao
- Alpine Endurance Team headed to Portimão this week for its final test session of the year ahead of its 2024 Hypercar programme.
- This was the first test session with two Alpine A424s and the six recently announced official drivers.
- After its windtunnel tests in the USA in November, the A424 continued its homologation process in Switzerland. The homologation process is currently being completed at the FIA’s Valleiry facilities in France.
- In total: two days of running focused on development with just over 3,000 km covered (1,443 km for #35 and 1,562 km for #36), with no technical problems significant enough to delay the completion of the work schedule.
- For the first time, the presence of the six drivers in the 2024 line-up allowed the technical teams for the crews to work on the cockpit, refuelling processes, driver changes, pitlane and garage procedures.
- The two days of testing were an opportunity to develop the homologated aerodynamic package, alternating between short and long runs with each driver. The aim was to improve the car and engine setups but also the interaction of the various systems as well as energy and fuel management.
- Furthermore, the session also provided an opportunity to continue working on tyre management and evaluate the different compounds proposed by our partner, Michelin.
Bruno Famin, VP Alpine Motorsports: "The whole team has done a huge amount of work throughout this development period; we've come a long way since we first took to the track at Le Castellet four months ago. The two hypercars ran without any major problems disrupting the test programme, but there is still a huge amount of work to do, and everyone involved in the programme is doing their best to ensure we are as ready as possible for the season opener in Qatar. We will approach that race with the utmost humility."
Philippe Sinault, Alpine Endurance Team Manager: "This test session at Portimao was an important step in our development programme. Our 2024 line-up was together for the very first time. I had no doubts about their behaviour and adaptability, and this confirms that we made the right choice. They settled in very quickly and are taking this project very much to heart. Nevertheless, development is far from complete, and we still have many hours of work ahead of us before the first meetings of the season."

[@isthisagoodname6279]

That satin blue is glorious I hope they keep it as the race livery

[@christophvollmann4192]

You have the best German driver in your Team. My best wishes to Mick Schumacher and hello from Germany.

[@ZedNinetySix_]

Gorgeous, and similar high singing like the 911 RSR's! Truly breathtaking in every sense.

[@franciscocelson1462]

A mix of beauty and a beast. Hope Alpine could fight in the front against Toyota, Ferrari and Porsche's

[@jeanpierregriffier5590]

YES, 100/100 MADE IN FRANCE . MOTOR MECHACHROME ,

[@mrsoisauce9017]

You’re funny. They’re French. What makes you think they could possibly win?

[@motogp4658]

I think they will, Alpine endurance crew are veterans of endurance, have won Le Mans in LMP2, I’m sure they going to do good if the car is reliable

[@mrsoisauce9017]

@@motogp4658 we’ve already seen that there’s a massive gap between the LMH and LMDh cars. There’s no way Alpine is closing that

[@motogp4658]

@@mrsoisauce9017 maybe next year they will adjust that difference to make it more “even” which I think is the purpose of having all them racing in the same class.

[@rossrreyes]

By far the best looking cars on the grid

[@CharlesMiddleton-ms2ng]

Car looks right, it's more about the pit crew and mechanics. Making sure that everyone is on their game. Toyota's the gold standard on that, and it's on everyone, including Ferrari, to match them, if not beat them.

[@abritandhisbikeinpoland6802]

Sounds like a proper racing car!

[@dalton-at-work]

great video. love the raw sound without music

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

Looks like Alpine has a real race car...

[@ACMEpowersports]

Beautiful car.

[@eliasbenjaminuribeparra9966]

I wish all the modern turbo V6s sounded as loud as this one

[@rogerpayne5336]

With the sound's of the turbo on top , this is the best v6 engine I've heard in any application. The Ferrari 296 GTB v6 was top , now relegated to 2nd in my list. I really hope this Alpine a424 is competitive , as a package it is a glorious race car : styling , rear lights , headlight's , sound , could only be a French car.........Bravo !

[@cabrelbeuk72]

Ca flex avec le drone :D

[@naxisetfoxis4877]

Mick 💪💪💪💪

[@RIPPERTON]

11:24 Locking inside front ? Is the front axle not electric ?

[@AutogenPl]

No. All LMDh cars are rear-wheel drive hybrids.

[@artysanmobile]

There is plenty of company knowledge about the timing of Sunday’s race to Monday’s sales. I think it’s reasonable to expect new models are part of the plan.

[@Jonoponomono]

Looks good. Here's hoping they can mix it up with Toyota next year.

[@user-kh2is7xf1t]

Ok 😊

[@bmill09a]

Single or twin turbo?

[@viiscfm]

Single

[@Jesko.]

Before it had one dive plane on each side. Now it has two. Won't be very fast though the mulsanne will it?

[@hybrid7750]

thats not how it works

[@Jesko.]

@@hybrid7750 How does it then? More drag less top speed. It doesn't seem to have any drag reducing elements to make up for the front.

[@bryshannbryant6773]

Toyota ran two on both of their cars & still had the speed

[@motogp4658]

They change aero packages for different tracks and specially for Le Mans they all run a different aero package, that may be the single one you are referring to they could’ve been testing

[@Endu-Rants]

@@motogp4658 I thought that too first, but turns out this isnt allowed anymore with the current cars, article 3.4.1 of the le mans hypercar technical regulations states that only one bodywork may be homologated. And "only one bodywork adjustable aerodynamic device (such as a wing, flap…) may be used. Whatever the position of this device, the car must fullfill the aerodynamic criteria defined in the Appendixes to these Regulations at all times." So a wing is only used for "balance purposes, not to increase downforce or lower drag. This was done to lower cost for manufacturers, and to make bop easier.

[@theabyssaldemon]

11:22 oopsie

[@jeanmarcfrancoisewitrant3269]

Les hypercars sont plus des protos que des GT améliorées

[@cabrelbeuk72]

Ce sont à 100% des protos, ou pour être plus exact à la base ça devait être des versions courses d'hypercar (trackday ou route). Après les regs ont évolués mais c'est pour ça que la valkyrie et la glickenhaus sont dispo à la vente (ainsi que théoriquement la Vanwall et la Isotta)

[@spadon5678]

Bah ouais

[@AdminAbuse]

Renault so desperately trying to make the Alpine brand relevant again while the brand still only sells a single vehicle, incredible

[@Bncxx1275]

Well what can they do ? Alpine demand itself as sport racing car for Renault

[@spadon5678]

@@Bncxx1275 maybe Alpine should start to make GT cars

[@Bncxx1275]

@@spadon5678 Renault already did with RS.one , they even having their own cup/challenge/league like Lamborghini and Porsche But too bad it was just racing focus prototype not road legal so a alot customer walk away, not marketable enough Gonna be same fate as Alpine if they do it

[@spadon5678]

@@Bncxx1275I talk about creat a brand new one or try to turn the A110 into a GT4 or something like that

[@joelproust8987]

Que savez-vous de l'avenir d'Alpine. Quand on ne connaît pas un sujet. On ferme sa bouche. Vous êtes certainement Anglais ! Toujours jaloux des Français. On a pas oublié votre guerre au Québec.

[@paulreilly3904]

It would be great to see them win. Unless and until Peugeot abandon their failed wingless design they're the best chance for a French win. I'd be happy to see anyone but Toyota win.

[@motogp4658]

Rumours are that Peugeot is seriously thinking about something of a rear wing but let’s see

[@Bncxx1275]

Hopefully we have side by side battle till the end of the race Like 5 car manufacture battle

[@paulreilly3904]

@@Bncxx1275 Thanks for the reply. You're right it would be great to see such fights. I've seen a grainy photo of the 9X8 with a wing in testing. I'm sure you are aware of the reasons why Peugeot have struggled without one. The other news is that Porsche are seeking to homologate a new crankshaft for the 963, which would necessitate a completely different firing order. I'm not a huge fan of Toyota, partly because of their rather boring road cars. With a couple of exceptions. But 2024 could be very exciting.

[@foxy126pl6]

It uses a formula 2 engine, known for being unreliable in an endurance series, this cant go well

[@smokeybandit9760]

Well lately there have been very few engine related retirements in F2 so maybe Mecachrome have improved the reliability

[@foxy126pl6]

@@smokeybandit9760 i guess!