Alpine A424 Aims for Le Mans Glory in 2025 Endurance Epic
Since Jean Rédélé founded Alpine in 1955, the marque has forged a rich bond with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It entered the race in 1963, claimed a class win on its second attempt and conquered the event outright in 1978. Alpine returned in 2013, added three LMP2 triumphs and rejoined top-flight endurance racing last season with the Alpine A424 Hypercar.
The Alpine A424 qualified for Hyperpole on its Le Mans debut, started strongly, yet endured its first and only double retirement. One year later, the Alpine Endurance Team heads back to the Circuit de la Sarthe determined to prove the car’s progress in the longest, most demanding and most celebrated race of the year, where simply reaching the finish counts as the first victory.
Engineers have continually improved every section of the prototype across seven races, culminating in third place at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji and repeating that podium at the 2025 6 Hours of Imola and the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Fresh from the back-to-back top-three in Belgium, the French squad overhauled both Alpine A424s during an intensive programme at Circuit Paul Ricard, then completed a final shakedown at Magny-Cours to prepare for every eventuality.
The team has operated from its Sarthe base since Monday. On Friday at 16:40, the cars will undergo a Pesage in Le Mans town centre, where FIA and ACO officials will verify every component. After Saturday’s 15:00 parade the Alpine A424s will return to the Circuit for Sunday’s official Test Day. Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin share the #35 entry, while Mick Schumacher, Frédéric Makowiecki and Jules Gounon take turns in the #36. The six drivers will refine setups, perfect pit stops and analyse Michelin tyre behaviour across the 13.626-km track.
The crew will crunch the data early next week before Wednesday’s first free practice and qualifying. Only the quickest 15 cars from the 30-minute session will qualify for Thursday’s 20-minute Hyperpole 1; the top ten then dispute pole in the 15-minute Hyperpole 2 with alternate drivers. Thursday night practice, Friday’s city-centre parade, and Saturday morning warm-up complete the build-up before the 24 Hours of Le Mans starts at 16:00, unleashing 62 cars, including 21 Hypercars.
Alpine will enliven the week with additional attractions. The marque plans track demonstrations of the Alpenglow Hy6, a hydrogen-powered V6 prototype revealed at the 2024 Paris Motor Show and recently showcased at Spa. A parade of Alpine models will celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary on Saturday afternoon, underscoring Jean Rédélé’s legacy of innovation and carbon-free performance.
Philippe Sinault, Team Principal Alpine Endurance Team, said: “We've made good progress in all areas for the A424's second outing at Le Mans. Our podium finishes at Imola and Spa on two very different circuits serve as testament to this. But the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains a truly unique event, which we approach with great humility given the race's difficulty and the field's unprecedented quality.
“This week, every lap on the track, whether during the Test Day, free practice, or even qualifying, must therefore be used to prepare for the race. That will be our priority.
“The team has been on site since Monday, motivated, focused and aware that we will need to deliver a flawless performance, from the mechanics to the drivers, to achieve a good result. We are building momentum and will do everything possible to maintain it at Le Mans, despite the scale of the challenge. We are ready to take it on.”