ALPINE WEC ENTRY ELIGIBILITY EXTENDED

Alpine is set to have the option of continuing its current presence on the World Endurance Championship grid following an extension of eligibility for non-hybrid LMP1 cars for a further year.

The FIA Endurance Commission gave the WEC Selection Committee the option to allow grandfathered non-hybrid LMP1 cars to continue to race in the Hypercar class for another year, something the French manufacturer had been actively pursuing.

Currently Alpine runs the ORECA-built A480 Gibson in the top tier of WEC competition. While they have committed to develop and race under the new LMDh regulations, their new car won’t be ready until 2024.

Toyota (GR010 Hybrid) and Glickenhaus (SCG 007 LMH) debuted their LMDh cars at the start of the 2021 season while Alpine continued to use the older model car built to the previous LMP1 regulations as the only other entrant in the top class at this stage.

Several more manufacturers will join the Hypercar class over the next several years. Peugeot signaled their intention to join in 2022, while Audi and Ferrari are due to join in 2023.

The FIA also announced new testing limitations will apply to competitors in the Hypercar class for cars homologated ahead of the 2021 season and entering the second year of their homologation cycle.

While the specific limitation has not been detailed, it’s a move to prevent cost escalation as manufacturers continue to join.

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