French sportscar producer Alpine has revealed that four-time Le Mans class winner Nicolas Lapierre will take up a brand new position as sporting director for the Alpine Endurance Workforce subsequent 12 months, following the information on Wednesday that the Frenchman has stepped again from skilled driving.
On this new position, which Lapierre teased as a part of his retirement announcement, he’ll help Alpine’s WEC Hypercar crew principal Philippe Sinault, and assist enhance the general efficiency of the drivers and the crew.
“Alpine has all the time proven an amazing quantity of confidence in me, not least by giving me the prospect to develop the A424 after which begin this primary season behind the wheel,” mentioned Lapierre, who racked up three LMP2 wins at Le Mans and two FIA WEC LMP2 titles throughout his time as a manufacturing unit driver for the model.
“After expressing the want to finish my profession as knowledgeable driver, I’m delighted to substantiate that I’m persevering with the journey with the crew, however this time on the opposite aspect of the pit wall.
“I’ll attempt to deliver all my expertise to our drivers and be the hyperlink with our technical groups. Endurance racing is on an amazing trajectory, and I consider within the Alpine challenge. We should proceed our relentless efforts to succeed in the subsequent ranges collectively.”
Lapierre will journey with the crew to the WEC season finale in Bahrain subsequent month to familiarize himself together with his new position earlier than formally taking the publish on January 1st 2025.
On the Sakhir circuit, Alpine has confirmed that Jules Gounon will take Lapierre’s place aboard the No. 36 A424 alongside Mick Schumacher and Matthieu Vaxivière. It will likely be Gounon’s fourth begin of the season after he subbed for the injured Ferdinand Habsburg within the No. 35 at Imola and Spa and joined the crew for a pre-planned run on the Fuji Speedway final month.
“I’m thrilled that Nicolas has been appointed Sporting Director of Alpine Endurance Workforce,” mentioned Sinault.
“We’ve got been discussing this prospect collectively for a number of months now. Other than our mutual want, it represents a logical and pure continuation of the affluent collaboration we now have shared over the previous couple of years, notably beneath the Alpine colours.
“We’ve grown up collectively and received many races and several other titles. We all know one another exceptionally properly, and there’s mutual belief. I need to thank Nicolas for accepting, and I’m trying ahead to seeing him contribute to the crew’s improvement in his new position.”
Bruno Famin, the VP of Alpine Motorsports believes the addition of Lapierre to its administration construction will assist it take one other step ahead subsequent 12 months.
“Proper from the outset of the A424 program, Nicolas has been one of many key actors,” he mentioned. “He was the primary to drive the automobile and contributed considerably to its improvement. The rostrum end at Fuji is a powerful reward for the work the entire crew and he has accomplished.
“Nicolas Lapierre is a part of the Alpine household. Along with his confirmed qualities as a driver and human being, he has gained a wealth of expertise outdoors the automobile lately. Along with Philippe, it was clear to us that Nicolas may naturally deliver an amazing deal to the crew by way of his sporting director position, and we’re genuinely delighted that Nicolas has accepted.”
