Alpine A424
A424_β show car on display at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans
Category Hypercar
ConstructorAlpine (Oreca)
Designer(s)Raphaël Linari (Chief Exterior Designer)[1]
Christophe Chapelain (Project Chief Engineer)[2]
PredecessorAlpine A480
Renault Alpine A442
Technical specifications
ChassisLMP2-based carbon fibre monocoque with honeycomb shell
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, pushrods with power steering
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, pushrods
Length5,000 mm (196.9 in)
Width1,998 mm (78.7 in)
Height1,058 mm (41.7 in)
Wheelbase3,148 mm (123.9 in)
EngineAlpine V634 modified 3.4 L (207 cu in) 90° V6 turbocharged mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted
Electric motorRear-mounted 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) spec MGU supplied by Bosch
TransmissionXtrac P1359 7-speed sequential manual[3]
Power500 kW (680 PS; 671 hp)
Weight1,030 kg (2,271 lb)
FuelTotalEnergies
BrakesAP Racing carbon with AP Racing Monobloc 6-piston calipers
TyresMichelin slicks with one-piece forged alloys, 29/71-18 front and 34/71-18 rear
Competition history
CompetitionFIA World Endurance Championship
Notable entrantsFrance Alpine Endurance Team
Notable drivers
Debut2024 Qatar 1812 Kilometers

The Alpine A424[5] is an LMDh sports prototype racing car designed by Automobiles Alpine and built by Oreca to compete in the Le Mans Hypercar class in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Background

On 5 October 2021, Alpine formally announced an entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship starting from the 2024 season, using an LMDh-compliant racing design.[6] It was also confirmed on the same day that Oreca was chosen as the chassis supplier for their LMDh contender.[7]

Alpine unveiled a prototype show car, named the A424_β (pronounced "A424 Beta"[8]), on 9 June 2023, at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was also announced that the car would use a hybrid powertrain, consisting of a Mecachrome V6 single turbocharged internal combustion engine and standardized hybrid drivetrain components provided by Williams Advanced Engineering, Bosch and Xtrac, and that Signatech would run two cars.[5][9]

The car is built on the "next generation" Oreca LMP2 chassis.[9] The A424's engine is said to be a "heavily modified" version of the Mecachrome V634 engine used in the FIA Formula 2 Championship; Alpine confirmed that the car's engine was unrelated to the engine briefly used in the Ginetta G60-LT-P1 LMP1 car in 2018. Dyno tests for the engine were completed on 28 June.[10] The car was first fired up on July 5. The aim for the program is to complete 2 shakedown tests at Lurcy-Lévis at the end of August, following which the car will embark on its first test. The test programme will involve running at Circuit Paul Ricard, Motorland Aragón, Jerez and Portimão.[11][3][10] The car will compete in 2024 as the A424.[5]

Alpine unveiled their driver lineup for 2024 on 22 November 2023.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Taylor, James (18 June 2023). "Alpine A424 Le Mans hypercar makes public debut". Evo. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Christophe Chapelain (Alpine A424): "The best LMDh while anticipating future BoP changes"". en.endurance-info.com/. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 Chilton, Chris (9 June 2023). "671-HP Alpine A424_β Hypercar Is On Track For Le Mans 2024". Carscoops. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Schumacher: A new chapter beginning for me with Alpine". Grand Prix 247. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Oakley, Phil (9 June 2023). "Alpine launches 2024 Hypercar, the A424_β, at Le Mans". Motorsportweek. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Baldwin, Alan (6 October 2021). "Renault's Alpine announces new endurance entry from 2024". Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Alpine chooses an ORECA chassis to compete in LMDh starting in 2024". Oreca. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Staff (18 June 2023). "Alpine A424_β endurance racer revealed". Drive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  9. 1 2 Klein, Jamie (9 June 2023). "Alpine launches A424 Beta LMDh car for 2024 WEC campaign". Autosport. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  10. 1 2 Oakley, Phil (16 June 2023). "New Alpine A424 Hypercar will use 'heavily modified' version of F2 engine". Motorsportweek. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "First Shakedown Imminent For Alpine A424 LMDh | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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