Alpine’s Hypercar programme is set to come to an end after the 2026 FIA WEC season, following a change in motorsport strategy from the French brand, communicated today, which will see it focus solely on its Formula One programme.
“We have had to take hard decisions to protect the long-term ambitions of Alpine,” explained Philippe Krief, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine. “On one side, the automotive industry – and particularly the EV market – are growing slower than expected. On the other side, to succeed in the long term, we must continue our ongoing investment into the Alpine product portfolio and Alpine brand. The result is we must take decisive actions to create a brand with a sustainable future.
“As one team, everyone at Alpine must focus all our efforts on these challenges. In regard to motorsport, while we regret not being able to continue in the WEC after this season, focusing on Formula One offers us a unique platform from which we can grow brand awareness in line with our ambitions for product and market growth.
“A winning spirit is part of the DNA of Alpine, across all parts of the business. Therefore, I am confident we will continue to fight until the very last second of the very last race that we are engaged in through 2026.”
In addition to announcing its withdrawal from top-level sports car racing, it has confirmed that the Viry-Châtillon site – now called Alpine Tech – will transition to focusing on innovation for Renault Group and the Alpine brand.
“We have been working hard in defining the new structure and organisation of Alpine Tech,” explains Axel Plasse, VP Alpine Tech.
“We have incredible talents at the Viry-Châtillon site, and we have worked carefully to ensure that the new setup will allow us to fully focus on the innovative, cutting-edge expertise of our workforce and offer services for new projects and businesses. A busy year has already started with this new focus in mind, alongside running this final WEC season.”
Alpine has been a regular in the FIA WEC since 2015. It has three victories in the current Hypercar era, two in 2022 with the A480 (below), and a third with the A424 LMDh (featured) at Fuji Speedway in the championship’s 100th race.
Prior to that, it had significant success with its partner team, Signatech, in LMP2, capturing three class Le Mans wins and two FIA WEC class titles in 2016 and 2018/19. In the ELMS, it also took LMP2 titles in 2013 and 2014.
In recent weeks, though, speculation that it would be pulling the plug on its WEC programme intensified following Renault’s CEO change last year and an increase in financial pressure.
DSC reported on the subject earlier this week when Jean-Marie Vilain, the Mayor of Viry-Châtillon and Regional Councillor of Île-de-France, put out an explosive statement regarding the future of its operations at Viry-Châtillon ahead of today’s decision by the Renault Group.
Alpine joins Lamborghini and Porsche as the third high-profile manufacturer to withdraw from Hypercar in as many years. However, the WEC’s top class remains in rude health. Aston Martin entered the category in 2025, Genesis is set to join the top class this season, and both McLaren and Ford have announced they will arrive in 2027.
