Le Mans 24 Hours class winner Nicolas Lapierre will take a brand new administration position at Alpine’s World Endurance Championship crew following his retirement from racing.
Having introduced his resolution to hold up his helmet earlier this week, Lapierre will transfer right into a newly-created position of sporting director on the Alpine Endurance Staff to help crew principal Philippe Sinault.
Though his new job will formally start on 1 January 2025, the Frenchman will take up the place in November’s Bahrain 8 Hours finale in an effort to familiarise himself with the position.
The 40-year-old pulled the curtain down on his racing profession after final month’s Fuji spherical to focus “on the opposite aspect of the pitwall”, a task that introduced him extra pleasure than he anticipated since he began CLX Motorsport – which operates beneath the Cool Racing banner – in 2020.
“Alpine has at all times proven an amazing quantity of confidence in me, not least by giving me the possibility to develop the A424 after which begin this primary season behind the wheel,” he mentioned.
“After expressing the want to finish my profession as an expert 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 pitwall.
“I am going to 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 imagine within the Alpine undertaking. We should proceed our relentless efforts to succeed in the following ranges collectively.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Staff Alpine A424: Nicolas Lapierre, Mick Schumacher, Matthieu Vaxiviere
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Photos
Lapierre has been racing alongside Mick Schumacher and Matthieu Vaxiviere within the #36 Alpine A424 LMDh in 2024, scoring the programme’s maiden podium end in Japan in September.
With Lapierre stepping down from racing with a spherical nonetheless to run, his place within the two-car Alpine crew in Bahrain will likely be taken over by reserve driver Jules Gounon, though Alpine didn’t explicitly verify that he will likely be driving the #36 A424.
Gounon was already all the way down to compete within the eight-hour race on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit rather than Charles Milesi as a part of a plan agreed internally earlier than the beginning of the season. Nevertheless it now seems that Milesi will see out the season within the #35 Alpine.
On the choice to advertise Lapierre to a administration position, Sinault mentioned: “We now have 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’ve shared over the previous few years, significantly beneath the Alpine colors.
“We have grown up collectively and received many races and a number of other titles! We all know one another exceptionally effectively, and there’s mutual belief. I wish to thank Nicolas for accepting, and I am trying ahead to seeing him contribute to the crew’s growth in his new position.”
Lapierre performed a pivotal position within the growth of the Alpine A424 challenger, having introduced with him greater than 15 years of expertise in prototype equipment.
“Proper from the outset of the A424 programme, Nicolas has been one of many key actors. He was the primary to drive the automobile and contributed considerably to its growth,” mentioned Alpine motorsport chief Bruno Famin.
“He’s 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 in recent times.
“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.”
It stays unclear whether or not Lapierre will keep as crew principal at Cool Racing, an outfit that he based along with Alexandre Coigny. When requested by Motorsport.com, an Alpine spokesperson declined to remark.
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