[WEC] Alpine Sportscar Discussion

[canaglia]

yes, you're right, I forgot of that statement.

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It's a shame they can't run their A480 for another season, although I understand why

I think it's a good decision this time by the ACO. What's the point of letting them race an Oreca LMP1 with that kind of BOP they got this year?

[Simmi]

Good news that they'll stick around during the year out. I imagine they will have some tasty lineups as they'll want to get their drivers locked down.

P2 is still going to be a dogfight next year with the top teams waiting for customer Hypercars to become available. You'd imagine WRT, JOTA, Prema etc will all be involved, and United have already confirmed Josh Pierson for '23.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Good news that they'll stick around during the year out. I imagine they will have some tasty lineups as they'll want to get their drivers locked down.

I'd imagine they would have at least of couple of their 2024 drivers in the lineup and maybe they can find a good silver in single seaters to promote for P2?

[Richard117]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Can they manage it alongside their F1 program? I suppose it's possible, although it won't be easy. Running one car is hard enough, but upgrading to two cars isn't as easy as it sounds. It's a shame they can't run their A480 for another season, although I understand why

Upgrading to 2 cars? Signatech is already running 2 cars for many years. At this moment both the Hypercar/LMP1 Alpine and the Richard Mille Racing LMP2.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Richard117

Upgrading to 2 cars? Signatech is already running 2 cars for many years. At this moment both the Hypercar/LMP1 Alpine and the Richard Mille Racing LMP2.

'Furthermore, the Alpine plan is separate from the Richard Mille Racing Team program that receives technical support from Signatech.

“We will probably carry on with the same type of arrangement that we have with Philippe Sinault and Signatech,” said Rossi.'

So three cars if you like

[S griffin]

I applaud them for coming this far. They've obviously managed to get the right people in place to make this project work. It's the right way to do it, getting technical support from established teams in the series. I will wait to see what happens next

[JoeW04]

I applaud Alpine for bringing another car to the very limited hypercar class but I think the ACO are doing the right thing and drawing a line under the current car, a shame as it’s always been one of my favourites but it’s time to move on

[hondafan37]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CflpZltoxlw/?hl=es

[joeb]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

https://www.instagram.com/p/CflpZltoxlw/?hl=es

That is brilliant! And combined with the blue Glick and grey Peug, we have actual color variety in the top class!

sent during haircut

[Simmi]

Do we think this is a legit livery change or just a bit of Italian-themed promo?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Do we think this is a legit livery change or just a bit of Italian-themed promo?

Well up until you questioned it I thought it was legit, but now I'm wondering what else in my life I'm fooled by...

sent during haircut

[Simmi]

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/mot...-racer-le-mans

Did we know they were making a hydrogen play? That's a lot of dev alongside an F1 team, engines and LMDh.

[Mike E]

Don't recall anything on this. But the ACO are pressing ahead with hydrogen eligibility in 2025, aren't they? So they must have been expecting someone to step up. Most of the fuel cell drivetrain is spec anyway.

[S griffin]

First time I remember hearing about this. I know there have noises from some about hydrogen. Can’t remember who.

[Koenigsegg]

Originally Posted by S griffin

First time I remember hearing about this. I know there have noises from some about hydrogen. Can’t remember who.

I remember hearing/reading that Hyundai, Toyota and maybe BMW are interested in hydrogen.

[crmalcolm]

Initially published Sep 2018:

ACO unveils hydrogen-powered prototype at Spa

The ACO’s aim of introducing hydrogen-powered prototypes to Le Mans took solid form at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday (September 22), as Yannick Dalmas drove a series of laps in a experimental development car.

The zero-emission LM PH2G has been produced in partnership between the Le Mans 24 Hours promoter and GreenGT, christened Mission H24, with the ultimate goal being a hydrogen class for the 2024 edition of the great race.




Then in Feb 2019:
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and GreenGT have come together to form H24 Racing team with the push towards hydrogen-powered cars continue on.

'As the work on the car as well as the formation of the category continues on behind the scenes, the ACO and GreenGT decided to form a racing team which will run the cars in future, with the inception of H24 Racing.'


Then in Jun 2021:
Looking beyond the immediate future of the H24 project, 2024 and the implementation of the new hydrogen class in ACO racing is looming.

'It seems clear that from the eight manufacturers around the table defining the regulations likely just one will emerge to pick up the baton of a challenging timeframe. How far the hydrogen class progresses beyond that will depend on two things: how many manufacturers sign up and how the filling technology from TotalEnergies’ side progresses.'

ACO President Pierre Fillon: "I can tell you at this time that we have five manufacturers involved in the working group on the fuel cell regulations"

I know previously that Red Bull Advanced Technologies and ORECA were working together on a one-make chassis. I wonder if the first few entries (including the Alpine) will be power-train only in the RBAT/ORECA chassis?

[Mike E]

More on how the Hypercar might look and further commitment to hydrogen.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/...-revealed.html

https://youtu.be/DIqt5dQpBCU

[Matador]

New LMDh, New Thread