Formulation 2 race winner Victor Martins will reunite with Alpine in 2026, becoming a member of its Hypercar programme within the World Endurance Championship.
Martins spent a big a part of his junior profession as a part of Alpine’s driving academy, profitable the Formulation 3 title on his second try in 2022.
He spent the following two seasons racing in F2 beneath the Alpine umbrella in 2023-24, earlier than becoming a member of forces with Williams final season and making his Formulation 1 apply debut on the Spanish Grand Prix.
Nonetheless, after only one yr as a part of the Williams Academy, he’ll return to Alpine in 2026, albeit in a job targeted on sportscar racing.
Whereas the French producer hasn’t revealed which of the 2 A424 LMDh prototypes Martins will drive within the WEC, he’ll primarily fill one of many two vacancies attributable to the departures of Mick Schumacher and Paul-Loup Chatin.
“Becoming a member of Alpine Endurance Group within the FIA World Endurance Championship is a major step in my profession and a duty I take very significantly,” Martins commented. “Alpine is a model with a robust 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 intently 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 change to sportscar racing after three blended seasons with ART in F2 throughout which he gained three races and scored 17 podiums, however wasn’t in a position to enhance on the fifth-place championship end from his rookie yr.
Nonetheless, he already has expertise of the Oreca-based Alpine LMDh, having taken half within the Bahrain post-season check on the finish of 2024 and set the third-quickest time among the many rookies.
“We’re clearly more than happy with this collaboration, which represents a robust and thrilling alternative for the undertaking,” stated Alpine group principal Philippe Sinault. “Victor will deliver us his pure pace, but additionally his expertise on the highest stage and his technical understanding, all of which can permit us to proceed progressing collectively.
“Since Victor took half within the 2024 rookie check with the A424, there was a transparent mutual want to work collectively. We share the identical mindset and strategy, and I’ve little question that his integration into the group might be swift and that he’ll in a short time have the ability to contribute to bettering our total efficiency.”
Thus far, 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 gained at Fuji, whereas Schumacher, Makowiecki and Guonon piloted the #36 automobile.
Chatin has departed the group to hitch Genesis’ new Hypercar programme, whereas Schumacher has left WEC altogether to race in IndyCar with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
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