French sportscar manufacturer Alpine has revealed that four-time Le Mans class winner Nicolas Lapierre will take up a new role as sporting director for the Alpine Endurance Team next year, following the news on Wednesday that the Frenchman has stepped back from professional driving.
In this new role, which Lapierre teased as part of his retirement announcement, he will support Alpine’s WEC Hypercar team principal Philippe Sinault, and help improve the overall performance of the drivers and the team.
“Alpine has always shown a tremendous amount of confidence in me, not least by giving me the chance to develop the A424 and then start this first season behind the wheel,” said Lapierre, who racked up three LMP2 wins at Le Mans and two FIA WEC LMP2 titles during his time as a factory driver for the brand.
“After expressing the wish to end my career as a professional driver, I am delighted to confirm that I am continuing the adventure with the team, but this time on the other side of the pit wall.
“I’ll try to bring all my experience to our drivers and be the link with our technical teams. Endurance racing is on a great trajectory, and I believe in the Alpine project. We must continue our relentless efforts to reach the next levels together.”
Lapierre will travel with the team to the WEC season finale in Bahrain next month to familiarize himself with his new role before officially taking the post on January 1st 2025.
At the Sakhir circuit, Alpine has confirmed that Jules Gounon will take Lapierre’s place aboard the No. 36 A424 alongside Mick Schumacher and Matthieu Vaxivière. It will be Gounon’s fourth start of the season after he subbed for the injured Ferdinand Habsburg in the No. 35 at Imola and Spa and joined the team for a pre-planned run at the Fuji Speedway last month.
“I am thrilled that Nicolas has been appointed Sporting Director of Alpine Endurance Team,” said Sinault.
“We have been discussing this prospect together for several months now. Apart from our mutual desire, it represents a logical and natural continuation of the prosperous collaboration we have shared over the last few years, particularly under the Alpine colors.
“We’ve grown up together and won many races and several titles. We know each other exceptionally well, and there is mutual trust. I want to thank Nicolas for accepting, and I’m looking forward to seeing him contribute to the team’s development in his new role.”
Bruno Famin, the VP of Alpine Motorsports believes the addition of Lapierre to its management structure will help it take another step forward next year.
“Right from the outset of the A424 program, Nicolas has been one of the key actors,” he said. “He was the first to drive the car and contributed significantly to its development. The podium finish at Fuji is a magnificent reward for the work the whole team and he has done.
“Nicolas Lapierre is part of the Alpine family. In addition to his proven qualities as a driver and human being, he has gained a wealth of experience outside the car in recent years. Together with Philippe, it was clear to us that Nicolas could naturally bring a great deal to the team through his sporting director role, and we are genuinely delighted that Nicolas has accepted.”