Alpine Endurance Team Completes Productive Test in Portugal Ahead of 2026 Season
The Alpine Endurance Team has successfully concluded a key test of its 2026-spec A424 LMDh at the Autódromo do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. This testing session, conducted under dry conditions, saw the team log an impressive 1,250 kilometers with no incidents, utilizing Michelin’s new 2026 tires.
Team principal Philippe Sinault noted the significance of this session: “These tests were an important step as it was our first full session with the new package… We gathered a wealth of information that we are now analyzing in detail, particularly focusing on the new tires.”
Drivers Ferdinand Habsburg, Frédéric Makowiecki, and newcomer Victor Martins participated extensively, with special attention given to Martins’ integration into the team. “I really enjoyed seeing the precision it requires, especially under braking and at corner entries,” Martins commented, highlighting the car’s performance characteristics.
The 2026 season is pivotal for Alpine, which faces heightened expectations from the motorsport community, especially following notable performances last season, including a surprise victory at Fuji Speedway.
Bruno Famin, Alpine’s Vice President of Motorsport, expressed optimism about the performance data gathered: “The first feedback is encouraging… Our goal is clear: we want to keep improving our performance level to consistently battle at the sharp end of a more competitive field than ever.”
Alpine will reveal the livery of its A424 cars and crew composition at a launch event on February 18, prior to further testing at Motorland Aragón later in the month and ahead of the FIA WEC Prologue in Qatar in March.
