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NEWS
Alpine returns to Le Mans after 35 years
2013 will see the Alpine brand make a return to the famous European Le Mans SeriesRenault has announced its intention to enter Alpine in the 2013 European Le Mans Series (ELMS), ahead of the famous marque's re-launch in 2016.
Five Alpine A110s were officially entered for the recent Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, following the presentation of the Alpine A110-50 at the 2012 Monaco F1 Grand Prix and at the Le Mans Classic week – both occasions marking the 50th anniversary of the celebrated ‘Berlinette’.
It’s all part of a ‘carefully tailored’ plan Renault says will revive interest in the marque, and a move that ‘fits perfectly with the brand’s heritage’.
Alpine contested the famous 24-Hour Le Mans race 11 times between 1963 and 1978, running a total of 55 factory cars. In addition to its successes in the ‘Energy Index’ classification in 1964, 1965 and 1968, as well as in the ‘Performance Index’ classification in 1968 and 1969, its efforts earned a total of seven class wins, and an impressive outright victory in 1978.
For its return to Le Mans, Alpine has joined forces with Signatech. The Philippe Sinault-run team will enter an Alpine LM P2 prototype with an Alpine chassis powered by a 500hp (373kW) Nissan engine for the five rounds of the ELMS, including the opening race at Silverstone, England on April 13.
Renault says the highlight of the season, ‘naturally’, will be the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 22-23.
“Alpine’s return to the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours in 2013 marks the beginning of a new adventure which is set to last,” said Renault COO, Carlos Tavares. “The passion that drives us is matched only by the humility and careful attention paid to costs that epitomise this comeback, which itself has been made possible thanks to the involvement of our partners and supporters who I would like to thank formally here. Together, step by step, we will do our very best to write another exciting page in the history of Alpine, a truly outstanding name in the world of French sports cars.”
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Written byMatt Brogan
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