Signatech-Alpine today unveiled its two LMP2 Alpine A460s at Le Castellet, France, destined to campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2017. Unveiled alongside the Alpine Vision and Alpine Célébration show cars, the Alpine A460s – in classic blue and orange livery – celebrate Alpine’s involvement in endurance racing going back to the 1970s with the Alpine A440.
The Alpine A460 is powered by the same 4.5-litre V8 as the A450b from last year. The Renault-Nissan Alliance engine delivers more than 550 hp and drives a six-speed sequential gearbox. The two A460s, numbers 35 and 36, will run under the Signatech-Alpine banner, but crewed under two different national flags.
The number 35 car, driven by Frenchman Nelson Panciatici and Chinese drivers David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung, will campaign as Baxi DC Racing Alpine. Having previously won several Asian Le Mans series titles as DC Racing, Baxi DC Racing Alpine has joined forces with Signatech-Alpine, who will be responsible for technical, sporting and logistical support.
The second car, number 36, will be piloted by newcomers to Alpine – Nicolas Lapierre from France, American Gustavo Menezes and Stéphane Richelmi from Monaco – and run under the French flag. Despite this, Signatech-Alpine insists that there will be no team orders, and each car is expected to run the best race possible.
After winning the six-hour in Shanghai and coming fourth in the 2015 FIA WEC for the LMP2 class, Signatech-Alpine is looking to continue to make progress with two new cars capable of challenging for victory at every round. Signatech-Alpine joins the rest of the 2016 FIA WEC field for a two-day test ahead of the championship’s opening round, the 6 Hours of Silverstone in UK this weekend.
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