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Following the maiden triumph for its A424 Hypercar at September’s 6 Hours of Fuji, Alpine Endurance Team arrives in Bahrain for this weekend’s FIA WEC season finale on the crest of a wave.
The ORECA-based, 3.4-litre V6-powered machine has made another step forward in its second year of competition, building on the promise it showed post-Le Mans last season.
With the French marque getting ever-closer to maximising the potential of its current package, Alpine has made the call to join the influx of manufacturers deploying development ‘jokers’ over the off-season, as the Hypercar field matures.
The A424 was designed with a focus on minimising drag to boost top speed, but the introduction of a two-stage Balance of Performance, whereby power is adjusted at the 250km/h mark, at Le Mans last year, has mitigated this advantage.
“As all the Hypercars have to go to WindShear [wind tunnel] again, we use that opportunity to homologate a new aero package,” Alpine Motorsports’ vice-president Bruno Famin explains to DSC.
“It won’t change the look of the car. The target of this aero kit is to get more downforce, because, you know, when we homologate the car, the beginning of the programme, we chose a very low drag and then a low downforce version. And unfortunately, the dual band came and cut the top speed, and then now we have to find additional downforce.”
The updated A424 has already been tested in the wind tunnel, and will take to the track before being homologated over the winter. Although the visual changes won’t rival the eye-catching adjustments being made to the BMW M Hybrid V8 or Toyota GR010-Hybrid prior to 2026, the most eager-eyed of fans should still be able to tell the new car apart from its current spec.
“It’s something we can see, but it will be light,” Famin confirms. “It’s not super visible.”
Alpine has played a key role in an active Hypercar driver market as we approach 2026, with several of its drivers being linked with moves away. The signing of António Félix da Costa, however, is its only announcement to date.
Famin is keeping his cards close to his chest, but has confirmed that Alpine is yet to set its driver line-up for next year.
“We have time, we have no pressure, and we still have some questions to answer,” he says.
“The question about Mick [Schumacher], for example, which is not a secret, if he leaves or not. But nothing is finalised yet.”
Entering 2025, the expectation for Alpine was to build on its maiden podium finish at Fuji 2024 and fight for top results on a regular basis. It is safe to say that this has been achieved, as best shown in its disappointment at finishing third at Spa.
Six weeks ago at Fuji, a strong strategy call saw Alpine fight back from early delays to score an upset victory with its #35 A424 of Ferdinand Habsburg, Paul-Loup Chatin and Charles Milesi.
“The two cars had a penalty at the beginning of the race, and after, the neutralisation put one car completely down, the #36, and one car back in the game [the #35],” Famin explains.
“Then it’s 50/50, and with the car, which was back in the game, we have been able to manage it quite properly, quite cleverly, to get the result in. We really fought for the win.
“What I really like in that win is that we were not happy in finishing third or fourth, it was not enough. We played for more, and it was successful. And I’m very happy with that attitude.”
The win at Fuji has promoted Alpine up to fifth in the Manufacturers’ Championship, and within touching distance of passing Toyota and equalising its 2024 result of fourth.
Although performing in the Manufacturers’ standings is important, the improved rate of top results is more significant to Famin.
“This weekend, we can finish fourth or seventh in the championship,” he states. “If we are really good, and Toyota is very bad, we can finish fourth, but to be honest…three podiums, one win. It’s much more important.”
The 2025 FIA WEC campaign comes to a close with its traditional finale, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, this weekend, with the race beginning at 14:00 AST on Saturday, 8th November 2025.
Author: Ewan Wane, Stephen Kilbey
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