Lapierre Takes Up Alpine Sporting Director Role

Nicolas Lapierre will serve as Alpine’s sporting director in the FIA World Endurance Championship next season following his retirement as a driver.

The 40-year-old, who revealed his decision to retire on Wednesday, will take up the role on Jan. 1, working underneath team principal Philippe Sinault, but will use next month’s season finale at Bahrain to begin familiarizing himself with his new duties.

Alpine reserve driver Jules Gounon will fill the vacancy left across Alpine’s two-car lineup for the eight-hour curtain-closer on Nov. 2, although it was not specified which of the two A424 crews he will be a part of.

Gounon drove the No. 35 car for the most recent WEC round at Fuji as part of a one-off arrangement to replace regular driver Paul-Loup Chatin.

“Alpine has always shown a tremendous amount of confidence in me, not least by giving me the chance to develop the A424 and then start this first season behind the wheel,” commented Lapierre.

“After expressing the wish to end my career as a professional driver, I am delighted to confirm that I am continuing the adventure with the team, but this time on the other side of the pit wall.

“I’ll try to bring all my experience to our drivers and be the link with our technical teams. Endurance racing is on a great trajectory, and I believe in the Alpine project. We must continue our relentless efforts to reach the next levels together.”

Lapierre announced his decision to end his career as a racing driver earlier this week, having previously revealed to Sportscar365 at the Circuit of The Americas in late August that he was actively considering a full-time switch to team management.

The Frenchman is already involved in team management via his role with LMP2 squad Cool Racing, although it remains unclear whether he will continue his association at Cool alongside his new duties with the Signatech-run Alpine team.

“I am thrilled that Nicolas has been appointed Sporting Director of Alpine Endurance Team,” said Sinault, whose relationship with Lapierre goes back over 20 years to when the latter drove for what was then known as the Signature team in Formula 3.

“We have been discussing this prospect together for several months now. Apart from our mutual desire, it represents a logical and natural continuation of the prosperous collaboration we have shared over the last few years, particularly under the Alpine colors.

“We’ve grown up together and won many races and several titles! We know each other exceptionally well, and there is mutual trust. I want to thank Nicolas for accepting, and I’m looking forward to seeing him contribute to the team’s development in his new role.”

Lapierre bowed out of WEC competition with a podium in the 6 Hours of Fuji alongside teammates Schumacher and Vaxiviere.

Gounon has been strongly tipped for a promotion to Alpine’s race lineup for 2025, while both Schumacher and Vaxiviere’s places at the team next season are in doubt.