Alpine revealed its A424_β LMDh machine at the centenary running of the Le Mans 24 hours, with which it hopes to return to the Hypercar category in 2024.
Bruno Famin, Alpine Racing’s executive director, explained the reasoning behind choosing LMDh platform: “In 2021, we decided to enter the Hypercar category and have been fully committed to it since January 2022. The pace gradually quickened, and given Alpine’s ambitions to penetrate the American market, the LMDh option was obvious as it requires a more limited investment in engineering than the LMHs.”
The team has chosen Oreca as its chassis partner on the project. Christophe Chapelain, chief engineer of Alpine’s Hypercar-LMDh project, said, “In Endurance, we have collaborated with Oreca since 2013. We consulted the three other constructors. They all have their strengths, but Oreca’s experience prevailed, even more so in the context of a 100% French project. We worked with Oreca on the chassis, engine integration and the input of our stylists to include the character traits of future Alpines in collaboration with their aerodynamicists.”
Chapelain highlighted that the integration of a car company’s styling department was a new experience for Oreca, which is used to building pure racing machines: “For the chassis, it’s the first time they’ve dealt with so much input from car designers. Compromises had to be made, between the desire for design and certain regulatory aspects, for example. However, the aerodynamic window leaves enough room to incorporate many ideas while converging toward the required windows. We had to reunite two different worlds and the result is magnificent. It shows that everyone has worked in the same direction to make this project successful, not only in terms of style today, but also on track tomorrow.”
Alpine’s chief designer, Raphaël Linari, outlined how the cooperation with Oreca and the racing department evolved: “We have been progressively integrated into this project. We started working on the first sketches in 2021 before being in touch with Oreca. We got one of their chassis at the end of the year to have a base on which to design an Alpine. We spent a whole year there as we needed a learning phase to understand all the constraints involved with regard to proportions and attitude as the driving position dictates the configuration of many associated volumes. We then produced a synthesis, which was refined as the aerodynamic tests progressed. They paced the stylistic development to sculpt the A424_β shape, both literally and figuratively, as we had to enter a mandatory performance window. It was a long-term project, but tremendously rewarding.” 
Alpine has opted to use a Mecachrome engine, the V634, a 3.4 -liter V6 that will be run in single turbo form, and which the company originally developed for the promising, but ultimately unsuccessful, Ginetta LMP1 as well as variants for the F2 and F3 single-seater series. The manufacturer says that there has been input from Renault’s Formula 1 engine team in Viry, France, looking at the development and calibration of the engine. “The engineers at Viry were very much involved, sharing their capabilities, resources and methods with us to improve power, reliability and materials. In simple terms, it’s a 3.4-liter single-turbo V6. We’ll be the only ones with this configuration,” stated Chapelain.
According to Alpine, the first shakedown of the A424_β is due at the end of July, with testing set to commence at Circuit Paul Ricard by mid-August. The homologation process, starting with wind tunnel testing at the Sauber facility in Hinwil, will begin in mid-November ahead of the car’s first 24-hour test at the end of that month. Final homologation is expected to be complete by the end of December.
Alpine A424_β techncial specification
Chassis
Type Carbon fiber and honeycomb body shell
Bodywork Carbon fiber
Suspension Double wishbone with pushrods
Steering Electric power-assisted
Length 5,000mm
Width 1,998mm
Height 1,058mm
Wheelbase 3,148mm
Weight Approximately 1,030 kg (according to BoP)
ENGINE
Configuration V6 single turbo at 90°
Displacement 3,400cc
Power 500kW / 675 horsepower
Rev band maximum 9,000rpm
Hybrid system Bosch standard / 50kW
Lubrication Dry sump/multi-stage oil pump
ECU Marelli
GEARBOX
Brand Xtrac
Type Transversally mounted
Gearshift Steering wheel-mounted paddles and pneumatic control
Gear 7 + reverse gear
WHEELS
Front tyres Michelin 29-71/R18
Rear tyres Michelin 34-71/R18
Front rims 12,5’’ x 18’’
Rear rims 14’’ x 18’
BRAKES
Discs Ventilated carbon
Calipers Six-piston one-piece
