Alpine A450 to Feature Custom Bodywork

Alpine’s return to sports car racing last year created a buzz, including interest from mainstream media. (En Français)

While there was no denying the A450 was essentially a re-badged Oreca 03, Signatech Alpine team manager Philippe Sinault confirmed the look of the LMP2 car will change slightly in 2014 to resemble the French manufacturer’s line of road cars.

“The new season for Alpine is confirmation that the return to endurance racing was not a one-shot marketing [exercise],” Sinault said. “We hope to bring aesthetic cues [to the car] so that you can tell it’s an Alpine.”

Alpine will return to the ELMS in defense of the teams’ championship, with an expansion to two cars. In parallel, two A450s could take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the second entry currently on the reserve list.

“We want to keep the [ELMS] title,” Sinault added. “The platform is fantastic. The goal is to win is there and there is a great desire to write a second page.”

Only two drivers are currently confirmed, with Paul-Loup Chatin in the No. 36 and Nelson Panciatici set to lead efforts in the No. 30 car.