Alpine Engine Updates “On the Way” After Le Mans Failures

Alpine has confirmed that updates to its A424 LMDh’s engine are “on the way” following the engine failures that spoiled a promising run for the French manufacturer in last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Mecachrome-based V6 turbos in both Alpines suffered terminal problems just six hours into the FIA World Endurance Championship blue riband, which came after the best-placed of its two cars had qualified inside the top five.

For the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, the engines were unmodified from Le Mans due to the tight turnaround between the races, but both Alpines made it safely to the finish in 10th and 12th places, with a turbo issue on the No. 36 car during Free Practice 2 on Friday proving the only reliability problem encountered by the team all weekend.

Alpine team principal Philippe Sinault says that updates will be introduced between now and the end of the season in order to ensure no repeat of the Le Mans failures.

Sinault told Sportscar365: “We identified clearly the reason why [we had the failures]. In terms of timing, between Le Mans and Sao Paulo was too tight and short.

“We have reacted, and we will bring some improvements and updates in the future to avoid any more trouble. It’s on the way but I don’t know clearly at the moment [when they will arrive].”

With the engine updates clearly targeted at reliability, Sinault said he hopes to avoid deploying the first of Alpine’s five permitted Evo jokers.

“The base of the engine is good,” added Sinault. “We had no trouble in the first three races, then something happened at Le Mans. It was very violent. But it’s part of the sport.

“It’s a young project. We didn’t expect to have this problem so early, but we realized it could happen during the race.”

Sinault stressed that Alpine’s only ambition for the remaining races of the season is to make the finish in order to gather data needed for further steps forward in 2025.

“It’s the only way to progress and have a better handle on all the items [to improve],” he said. “Maybe it sounds like a lack of ambition, but especially after Le Mans it’s essential to prove our reliability as a base and foundation for the future.”

Further track testing for the A424 is planned later in the year, although Alpine will be one of a small number of WEC Hypercar teams to skip this week’s test at the Circuit of The Americas ahead of next month’s sixth round of the season at the Texas venue.

“We will make some tests, but not during August,” clarified Sinault. “The timing is really short and we are focused on other subjects, not just one particular track.”

Sinault added that is “not in the plan” for Alpine to deploy an Evo joker this season.

“The package is good and we are not yet at the top of operating this package, so that’s the main job,” he said.

“We have improved a lot, we have better knowledge of the car, so our regular ranking is between eighth and 12th. We need more knowledge and experience of the car to be able to fight further up the field on a regular basis.

“I would say we have a global margin, how to use the engine better, how to warm-up the tires… we have to progress in all areas.”