Le Mans 24 Hours class winner Nicolas Lapierre will take a brand new administration function at Alpine’s World Endurance Championship staff 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 function of sporting director on the Alpine Endurance Group to help staff 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 with the intention to familiarise himself with the function.
The 40-year-old pulled the curtain down on his racing profession after final month’s Fuji spherical to focus “on the opposite facet 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 incredible 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 stated.
“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 staff, however this time on the opposite facet of the pitwall.
“I will attempt to carry all my expertise to our drivers and be the hyperlink with our technical groups. Endurance racing is on a terrific trajectory, and I imagine within the Alpine mission. We should proceed our relentless efforts to succeed in the following ranges collectively.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Group Alpine A424: Nicolas Lapierre, Mick Schumacher, Matthieu Vaxiviere
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Pictures
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 staff in Bahrain will probably be taken over by reserve driver Jules Gounon, though Alpine didn’t explicitly verify that he will probably be driving the #36 A424.
Gounon was already right 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. But it surely now seems that Milesi will see out the season within the #35 Alpine.
On the choice to advertise Lapierre to a administration function, Sinault stated: “We have now 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 couple of years, significantly beneath the Alpine colors.
“We have grown up collectively and received many races and several other titles! We all know one another exceptionally nicely, and there’s mutual belief. I wish to thank Nicolas for accepting, and I am wanting ahead to seeing him contribute to the staff’s improvement in his new function.”
Lapierre performed a pivotal function within the improvement 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 improvement,” stated 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 lately.
“Along with Philippe, it was clear to us that Nicolas may naturally carry a terrific deal to the staff by way of his sporting director function, and we’re genuinely delighted that Nicolas has accepted.”
It stays unclear whether or not Lapierre will keep as staff 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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