Method 2 race winner Victor Martins will be part of Alpine’s Hypercar programme within the World Endurance Championship, whereas assuming the position of take a look at and reserve driver on the Williams Method 1 group.
Martins spent a big a part of his junior profession as a part of Alpine’s driving academy, profitable the Method 3 title on his second try in 2022.
He spent the subsequent two seasons racing in F2 below the Alpine umbrella in 2023-24, earlier than becoming a member of forces with Williams final season and making his Method 1 apply debut on the Spanish Grand Prix.
On Monday, it was introduced that Martins will graduate from Williams Driver Academy to develop into its official take a look at and improvement driver for 2026, whereas concurrently representing Alpine within the high echelon of endurance racing.
Though the French producer hasn’t revealed which of the 2 A424 LMDh prototypes he’ll race within the WEC, Martins will primarily fill one of many two vacancies brought on by the departures of Mick Schumacher and Paul-Loup Chatin.
“Becoming a member of Alpine Endurance Group within the FIA World Endurance Championship is a big step in my profession and a duty I take very critically,” Martins commented. “Alpine is a model with a powerful racing heritage and clear ambitions on the highest stage of endurance racing.
“Competing in my first 24 Hours of Le Mans with this group is a large motivation, and I’m wanting ahead to working carefully with everybody to push efficiency, construct consistency and contribute to the long-term success of the programme.”
#36 Alpine Endurance Group Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Victor Martins
Picture by: Shameem Fahath
Martins makes the swap to sportscar racing after three combined seasons with ART in F2 throughout which he received three races and scored 17 podiums, however wasn’t in a position to enhance on the fifth-place championship end from his rookie 12 months.
The Frenchman already has expertise of the Oreca-based Alpine LMDh, having taken half within the Bahrain post-season take a look at on the finish of 2024 and set the third-quickest time among the many rookies.
Nevertheless, he isn’t solely leaving single-seaters behind and can help Williams F1 drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz because the sequence transitions to new laws this 12 months. His work will embody refining the Grove-based outfit’s new driver-in-loop simulator that grew to become purposeful on the finish of final 12 months.
Additional, he’ll assist develop a separate sim for Williams’ academy drivers.
“We’re glad to welcome Victor into his new position as Check and Growth Driver in 2026,” stated Sven Smeets, Williams sporting director.
“He’s a gifted driver who has constantly given invaluable steering and suggestions to the group, enhancing our on-track efficiency and supporting Alex and Carlos all through the 2025 season.
“His current expertise driving the FW47 in Barcelona FP1 and supporting the TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] programme offers him the real-world context to make actual affect on the event of the FW48 and future automobile programmes.”
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To date, Alpine has solely confirmed that new signing Antonio Felix da Costa to be becoming a member of the #35 A424, whereas Frederic Makowiecki has been listed as returning within the #36 entry.
In 2025, Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg and Charles Milesi raced the #35 automobile that received at Fuji, whereas Schumacher, Makowiecki and Guonon piloted the #36 automobile.
Chatin has departed the group to affix Genesis’ new Hypercar programme, whereas Schumacher has left WEC altogether to race in IndyCar with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
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