ALPINE SHARES RESOURCES TO FORM TWO FRONT-RUNNING CREWS

March 7, 2016 by Alpine

◾Signatech-Alpine has finalised its driver line-up for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)

◾Nelson Panciatici is to join forces with David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung in the N°35 car which will feature the colours of Baxi DC Racing Alpine

◾The N°36 car will be shared by Nicolas Lapierre and Gustavo Menezes, supported by Stéphane Richelmi

◾Both Alpine A460s will be presented at Le Castellet, France, on Thursday, March 24

Following the recent confirmation of the entry of two A460s for the 2016 FIA WEC, Alpine is pleased to be able to announce the complete driver line-ups. The six men will defend its colours during a season that will see it embark on a world tour, visiting venues as far afield as Mexico and Japan, not to mention the famous Le Mans 24 Hours on June 18-19.

Nelson Panciatici, a cornerstone of the team since Alpine's return to motor racing in 2013, will compete in the N°35 prototype. The Frenchman's experience and speed will benefit the DC Racing-led, Signatech-Alpine-run programme, and the 27-year old will share the car with David Cheng and Ho Pin-Tung. The newly-formed trio has set its sights particularly high.

The crew of the N°36 car – namely Nicolas Lapierre, Gustavo Menezes and the recently recruited Monegasque Stéphane Richelmi – has similarly lofty ambitions. After showcasing his skill in GP2 and GT racing, 25-year old Richelmi is a newcomer to prototype racing.

Signatech-Alpine will be able to count on the complementary skills and talent of these two crews in its bid to play a front-running role in the FIA WEC's LMP2 class.

Following a three-day test at Motorland Aragón, Spain, on March 7-9, the two new Alpine A460s will be presented officially at Le Castellet, France (7pm, Thursday, March 24), before seeing where they stand in relation to rival cars at the 2016 FIA WEC Prologue test.

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Philippe Sinault (Team Principal Signatech-Alpine): 'We are thrilled to have Nelson Panciatici on board with us once more. He has won two ELMS titles with Signatech-Alpine and will bring his speed and experience to our association with DC Racing. It is also very satisfying to have enlisted the services of Stéphane Richelmi for the N°36 car. Our driver line-ups have now been finalised and I think they illustrate the determination behind Alpine's racing programme for 2016. In their hands, the two A460s will be capable of fighting at the very front.

'The past few weeks have been quite intense, both for Alpine which recently presented the Alpine Vision show car in Monaco, and for the team which has been busy completing the build of our two cars. All six drivers have visited our base to get better acquainted with everyone, as well as to optimise their respective driving positions and to take part in technical meetings with our engineers. The squad is now raring to get on with what promises to be a challenging season!

'We are also pleased with and proud of DC Racing's input. It's an honour to have been chosen to run the technical, sporting and logistical sides of its programme. We are putting all our experience and know-how into making the project a success to a background of promoting Alpine's reputation in China.

'Last but not least, I would like to express my disappointment at not having been able to keep Paul-Loup Chatin with us in 2016. He has contributed a great deal to the team and to our results these past two seasons. It was a hard decision to take but we hope we will be able to work with him again in the future because he is part of the Alpine family.'