ALTAS ROTAÇÕES - Alpine Endurance Team returned to Test Day on the Circuit de la Sarthe

Sunday, 07 June 2026 21:59

Alpine Endurance Team returned to Test Day on the Circuit de la Sarthe

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Alpine Endurance Team returned to Test Day on the Circuit de la Sarthe

The 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans got underway on Friday with the traditional scrutineering at the Place de la République. A popular and must-attend event ahead of the on-track action, the two Alpine A424s and all the competitors underwent administrative and technical checks carried out by FIA and ACO officials.

Antonio Felix da Costa, Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, Frédéric Makowiecki, Jules Gounon and Victor Martins were on hand to be weighed in with all their kit, take part in media activities, and meet with the large crowd in attendance This enthusiasm was also palpable the following day during the city centre procession, where the #35 A424 driven in a one-off by Jules Gounon drove past to the applause of thousands of spectators.

Following these initial high points, attention turned to the Test Day, marked by the Alpine A424’s first laps in its 2026 configuration on the 13.626-kilometre Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans.

As soon as the green light came on at 10 am, Antonio Felix da Costa and Victor Martins set about the team’s particularly busy programme. Competing in the event for the first time, the Frenchman took the opportunity to complete the minimum ten laps required of new entrants during daylight hours.

Over the course of two three-hour sessions, the six drivers took turns behind the wheel to familiarise themselves with the track and gather as much information as possible about the Le Mans circuit. The French team then reviewed various key aspects: set-up, pit stops, track conditions, fuel management and the performance of the tyre compounds supplied by Michelin.

At the end of two productive sessions, the crews completed 131 laps, covering over 1,785 kilometres. Alpine Endurance Team has now begun analysing the data collected. On Wednesday, the team will return to the track for Free Practice 1, followed by Qualifying, in which the top 15 will advance to Hyperpole 1. The day will then conclude with the first night-time session, a further step in the build-up to the race.

QUOTES

#35 crew

António Félix da Costa

“It’s always a pleasure to return to Le Mans, and even more so this year with a French team. I’ve been feeling that since the start of the week. We were finally able to hit the track today for my first laps of this circuit in the Alpine A424. We went through our testing programme, and now we need to analyse everything in detail over the next two days to unlock the full potential of our package and be fully prepared for race week.”

Charles Milesi

“It was a good first day, with no mistakes or major issues, which is really important at Le Mans. We managed to do everything we planned despite a few interruptions this morning due to race procedures simulations. There is definitely an improvement compared to previous years, with a more enjoyable and consistent car, particularly in fast corners. The new tyres also seem easier to manage during the warm-up phase. We must now keep progressing and put all the lessons we’ve learnt today to good use.”

Ferdinand Habsburg

“I think the changes we’ve made to the car work well on this track. We might not have the fastest package at the moment, but it looks like we’re in the hunt. That said, it means there’s no moment to be comfortable as we still have some pace to find against the competition. I like that as I like to chase and be chased!”

#36 crew

Frédéric Makowiecki

“It was a busy day’s work, as our car has undergone a significant shift in design philosophy compared to last year. Some aspects are positive, whilst others require further understanding and analysis. The aim now is to bring everything together to build a solid package ahead of next week’s free practice sessions and race. It was therefore a Sunday full of valuable lessons that we must make the most of.”

Jules Gounon

“We tried out a lot of things today, particularly with the different tyre compounds. The aim was clearly to gain a better understanding of them and to observe how the car behaves, even if that meant putting ourselves in some challenging conditions. We worked well with the team, and we now need to analyse everything in detail and identify what works best to build a solid foundation for Wednesday.”

Victor Martins

“It was an incredible first day. Discovering Le Mans is something special. The track is magnificent, and I really enjoyed driving at over 330 km/h between the trees on the Mulsanne straight. There are so many places I love, but every corner has its own unique characteristics and that little something extra. I think we did a good job today. The team put me in different situations to keep developing my skills here, and I already feel much more prepared. Now we need to take the time to analyse everything properly and understand it all so that we’re even better prepared for Wednesday and Thursday.”

Management

Nicolas Lapierre, Sporting Director Alpine Endurance Team

“This first day was positive. The main target was clearly to get to grips with the tyres on this track, with both short and long stints on the three different compounds. This allowed us to gather a lot of information on how they perform with our package and the upgrades made over the winter, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans in sight. All the drivers did a good job, and Victor quickly got into the rhythm for his first run at Le Mans. We now have a lot to analyse over the next two days before Free Practice 1 on Wednesday.”

Philippe Sinault, Team Principal Alpine Endurance Team

“It was a productive and satisfying day. We got through our entire programme, particularly the evaluation of the different tyre compounds and our upgrades. The drivers all completed a significant number of laps to get to know the track or reacquaint themselves with it. We also made major changes to our cars between the two sessions, but the team handled it perfectly. We therefore have a lot of data to analyse, and over the next two days, we will go through it all in detail. The gaps are extremely tight, with a very close Hypercar field and ten cars within a second of the leader. The race promises to be fiercely contested, and every detail will matter. It’s up to us to work hard to be ready for what lies ahead.”