Alpine Plans Extra Bahrain Test; Could Debut A424 Updates

Photo: Fabrizio Boldoni/DPPI

Alpine could roll out its proposed aero updates for the A424 as early as next week in a single-day test at Bahrain International Circuit the French marque has planned according to the manufacturer’s vice president of motorsport Bruno Famin.

The Renault-owned brand, which is coming off a breakthrough first win for the ORECA-chassied LMDh car last time out at Fuji Speedway, will stay on for an additional day of running next Wednesday following Saturday’s FIA World Endurance Championship season finale and the following day’s rookie test.

The single-day test, Famin said, could be used to test its proposed Evo jokers prior to its planned final homologation in mid-December, although he stated giving new Alpine signing Antonio Felix da Costa further seat time is the main objective.

Da Costa is set to drive the A424 in the rookie test, having had his first outing in the car in a rollout test on the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit on Oct. 20.

“The main goal is to test with Antonio Felix da Costa, our new driver for 2026,” Famin told Sportscar365. “We made a small rollout just for him to have the driver position [validated].

“He will do the rookie test on Sunday and then the test on Wednesday.”

When asked if Alpine could test its proposed new aero package next week, which has only so far seen static testing in CFD and the wind tunnel, Famin said “it’s possible.”

He added: “We have been in Windshear for testing. But the homologation will be in the middle of December.

“We want to test on the real car first and finalize the configuration we’re having to homologate.”

Alpine is set for a further test at Paul Ricard on Dec. 5, which could provide an additional opportunity to run the car prior to its final homologation.

Famin downplayed any significant different visual appearances to the car, unlike the updated Toyota GR010 Hybrid and BMW M Hybrid V8, which have visibly new styling cues.

“It’s not a big change,” he said. “It’s just to get more downforce because our car has been designed with very low drag and low downforce.

“Now with the [two-stage power] that means it limits the top speed, we are lacking downforce clearly and we’re using this evolution to get some downforce back.”

Alpine team principal Philippe Sinault confirmed that multiple Evo jokers will likely be at play, also on the mechanical side of the car.

“We will play some jokers in many areas, but also on the aero side,” he told Sportscar365. “The aero has an impact on the mechanical side also. It’s not 100 percent defined yet because the car is still not homologated.”

Sinault indicated the car could make an additional trip through the Windshear wind tunnel in North Carolina, which is now shared with IMSA and WEC for homologation purposes.

Da Costa’s Mindset “Perfect” for Alpine Project

Sinault said the recently signed da Costa, who will join the full season lineup in 2026, brings the “perfect” mindset to the organization.

“I’ve known him since Formula 3 times,” said Sinault. “His entourage has also been close to us for a long time, with Tiago [Monteiro, da Costa’s manager].

“I have followed his whole career and for sure he is a good driver. His mindset is perfect for this project. I can’t wait to have him in the briefings, to improve the car and help us achieve our goals.

“This is part of our choice. It looks like he wants to make a big impact.”

Apline has not yet announced who da Costa will replace, although it’s understood that Paul-Loup Chatin will depart the team and is tipped to join Genesis Magma Racing, with Mick Schumacher looking increasingly likely to make a switch to the NTT IndyCar Series with RLL Racing next year.

Sinault indicated that Victor Martins, who tested the A424 in last year’s Bahrain rookie test, remains a “candidate” and is “part of our list” for 2026, although said the full makeup of its lineup is “not decided yet.”

“We will see after Bahrain,” he added. “I told the guys we had to stop thinking about this to be able to make a good result in Bahrain.

“And after that, in the next few days and weeks, things will become more clear.”

Jamie Klein contributed to this report

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John