Signatech Remains in Talks With One OEM for 2027

Photo: Fabrizio Boldoni/DPPI

Signatech has still remained in talks with one manufacturer about pulling off a last-minute deal to keep the team and car currently known as the Alpine A424 on the FIA World Endurance Championship grid next year according to team principal Philippe Sinault.

The French squad, which is embarking on its final race with Alpine in this weekend’s season-ending 6 Hours of Monza, hasn’t given up hopes for a Hypercar program until the entry deadline.

“The deadline is the 23rd of November, so it’s not an easy situation,” Sinault said when asked by Sportscar365 on the latest update on a manufacturer search. “We are still ready to operate the team as a two-car effort for 2027.

“We are in an emergency since the announcement of no interest by Geely. We’re pushing like hell to find some other option.

“Not a lot exists at the moment but we continue to push to contact some of them but time is running [out].”

Talks with Chinese automotive giant Geely broke down last month, which by then made it appear like the longtime entrant wouldn’t be racing in the WEC next year, with many of its current drivers admitting a sabbatical from Hypercar is likely.

However, Sinault said he’s held discussions with OEMs, including one unnamed brand that could take over the program in a complete re-brand.

It would continue to use the same engine, built at the now-former Renault engine facility at Viry-Chatillon in France, as well as the same bodywork due to the time crunch.

Sinault said he would come to a deal with Dumarey, which recently purchased all of the assets from the longtime engine facility.

“Our plan is to continue to work with these cars and this engine if we want to be ready for 2027. It’s the only way to be,” he said.

When asked if remaining on the Hypercar grid in 2027 is realistic at this point, Sinault said: “It’s difficult to say because in this type of situations, something can happen.

He added: “We don’t really have deep talks but we have one [manufacturer] where we’re starting to have some deep [discussions].

“But it’s difficult to say if it could be realistic or not.”

Sinault, who wouldn’t confirm if those discussions are with another Chinese manufacturer, did confirm he’s currently in conversation with Alpine, which currently owns a minority stake of his team, on the best way to move forward on the team ownership side.

If a deal cannot be reached by the WEC entry deadline, Sinault said there’s “Plan B” and “Plan C” in place that would keep the team operational, with the goal to return to the world championship in 2028.

He acknowledged that a LMP2 effort in the European Le Mans Series would be its first back-up plan.

“But at this moment, and we are really, really clear, we are 100 percent focus on Hypercar,” added Sinault. “If I want to achieve this situation we have to be really focused on this and no more.”

2028 Hypercar Return the Most Realistic Option

Sinault admitted that a return to the Hypercar class in 2028 is the most viable option as of today, which would give the team and OEMs they’ve been in discussion with more time to finalize a program.

“I am confident that they will arrive,” he said. “My job is to be ready if they are there. 2028 is more realistic, yes. But until the 23rd of November, we’ll try.

“It would be a hard move and a hard situation [to sit out a year in WEC] because I have some talents inside my team.

“I am quite confident the team and a success story like we did with Alpine, works if we have a strong project.

“If I am not able to achieve something in 2027, I have to bring, as soon as possible, a strong project to them, again, ‘Look, we can do that.’

“We have a lot of opportunity to continue to do that altogether.”

Sinault said he believes Geely could still be an option for 2028 but has not yet held discussions with the automaker, which is rapidly expanding into Europe with brand such as Zeekr and Lynk & Co., while also owning legacy automakers Volvo and Lotus and EV upstart Polestar.

“I have to say that Geely knows us very well now,” he said. “Maybe they could continue to consider this subject.”

He revealed he even held discussions with Honda on the possibility of running a factory WEC program with the Acura ARX-06, which is no longer competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“We had some talks with Honda before Le Mans, but there’s no more interest for the moment for WEC and Le Mans at the moment,” he said.

“I think I have spoken with everybody!”

Sinault said he’d also be open to running a privateer Hypercar in WEC in the future but it would hinge on available grid space, and wouldn’t be the Alpine A424, since the sporting regulations require a two-car factory team with the same model.

However, he indicated time has run out on that option for next year.

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