Alpine Wins 2013 ELMS LMP2 Class Championship

When the Signatech Racing team announced that it would become the Signatech-AlpineAlpineFrance, 1955 > 199414 models
219 photos
team for the 2013 European Le Mans Series, it came as a huge surprise. The team would run the same Oreca 03-NissanOreca Oreca 03 NissanFrance, 2011 > present2 photos
that it had in the 2012 season but with Alpine branding and renamed as the Alpine A450Alpine A450France, 2013 > 20134 photos
. Alpine left racing on a high note in 1978 after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the team had not had a factory racing car since then. It turns out that the team had the right idea because the A450 with drivers Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici won the 2013 European Le Mans Series LMP2 Class Championship after going into the final race of the season with a tie in points with Thiriet by TDS Racing.

The Alpine team did not even stand on the podium in the 3 Hours of Le Castellet at Paul Ricard this weekend. It finished fourth, but the Thiriet by TDS Racing team had problems and only completed 86 of the 93 laps. It was still enough for Alpine to take the lead.

This season, the A450 took three podiums in the five ELMS races, including winning the race at the Hungaroring.

“Ever since the start of the program, we have been privileged enough to benefit from strong backing from the media and racing fans alike. We would like to dedicate this title to them. Perhaps it’s just a first step,” said Bernhard Ollivier, Renault Sport Director.

Signatech Alpine’s Team Principal Philippe Sinault says that the team is considering running two A450s in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 and have a broader racing program overall. The team has hinted at plans to build its own car in the future but has not said when this new car will be ready; it may be the 2015 season or later.