Da Costa Determined to Stay in WEC After Alpine Exit

Antonio Felix da Costa says he is determined to stay in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year after Alpine’s Hypercar exit, having only just secured his return to the championship after a two-year absence.

The Portuguese driver joined the Signatech-run Alpine squad for the this year’s campaign after an enforced break from the WEC since his previous stint at JOTA Sport from 2019-23, to focus on his Formula E commitments with Porsche.

However, less than four months on from Alpine confirming his arrival, the Renault-owned marque announced its plans to withdraw from the WEC’s top class.

It leaves da Costa scrambling to find an alternative berth to stay on the 2027 WEC grid alongside his Formula E drive for Jaguar, which he joined for the start of the current 2025-26 season following his departure from Porsche.

“The goal won’t change, which is to maintain a double [WEC/Formula E] program,” da Costa told Sportscar365. “[Alpine’s exit] is obviously a massive blow for that.

“But I’ve got my management team on it, and what will be will be. I can only focus on doing a good job with the team, and my management will take care of the rest.”

Da Costa pointed out the driver market is likely to be particularly intense this year owing to the higher-than-usual number of qualified pilots available, with Porsche driver Kevin Estre having been linked to Toyota and the likes of Alex Lynn and Laurens Vanthoor being in contention for rides at 2027 WEC newcomer McLaren.

However, amid reported interest from Chinese auto giant BYD in acquiring the assets of the Signatech-run Alpine team could provide a home for da Costa and the rest of the team’s current lineup to stay put for the 2027 campaign.

“You have the Porsche guys on the market, now us, another manufacturer [Acura] is stopping in IMSA, so probably they will be on the market too,” da Costa added.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’m just happy with what I’ve had so far in my life, and anything that comes next is a bonus.”

Da Costa began his Alpine tenure in last month’s 6 Hours of Imola with a fourth-place finish in the No. 35 entry he shared with Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg.

This weekend sees the French outfit return to Spa, where it scored a podium with the sister No. 36 entry after a race-long battle with Ferrari.

Asked whether the team’s impending exit from the WEC only increases his motivation to obtain results this season, he replied: “100 percent.

“We have a great team and car, so I am fully motivated. I have the Formula E program as well, and it’s going well, so I am also focused on that.”