Alpine Confirms WEC Exit at End of Season

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Alpine has announced that it will shutter its Hypercar program at the end of this season, following weeks of speculation that the French brand would exit the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Confirmed on Thursday, it will mark the end of Alpine’s involvement in WEC competition, which dates back to 2013 in the LMP2 ranks in partnership with Signatech prior to graduating to the Hypercar ranks in 2021 with a grandfathered ORECA-chassied LMP1 car.

Alpine created its own LMDh car, the A424, based around an ORECA spine, which launched in 2024, with its highlight to date coming with a maiden win last year’s 6 Hours of Fuji with Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin.

Its withdrawal comes amid a change of leadership in parent company Renault, which saw Francois Provost take over a CEO from Luca de Meo last summer, and follows decreased sales, particularly with its initial EV-only strategy, which has since been reversed.

The decision to exit WEC does not impact its current involvement in Formula 1.

“We have had to take hard decisions to protect the long-term ambitions of Alpine,” said Alpine CEO Philippe Krief.

“On one side, the automotive industry – and particularly the EV market – are growing slower than expected.

“On the other side, to succeed for the long-term we must continue our ongoing investment into the Alpine product portfolio and Alpine brand. The result is we must take decisive actions to create a brand with a sustainable future.

“As one team, everyone at Alpine must focus all our efforts on these challenges.

“In regard to motorsport, while we regret not being able to continue in the WEC after this season, focusing on Formula 1 offers us a unique platform from which we can grow brand awareness in line with our ambitions for product and market growth.

“A winning spirit is part of the DNA of Alpine, across all parts of the business. Therefore, I am confident we will continue to fight until the very last second of the very last race that we are engaged in through 2026.”

Alpine has yet to confirm its full driver lineup for its final WEC campaign, although Sportscar365 understands that both Milesei and Jules Gounon, who have yet to be announced, are set to continue.

They will join new signings Antonio Felix da Costa and Victor Martins along with the returning Habsburg and Fred Makowiecki.

Source: Sports Car 365