Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website The Signatech Alpine Matmut team all set to go in the FIA World Endurance Championship
april 09, 2018 - Alpine Matmut

The Signatech Alpine Matmut team all set to go in the FIA World Endurance Championship


  • The Signatech #alpine Matmut team took part in the FIA #wec Prologue over the last two days, held at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
  • Nicolas Lapierre, André Negrão and Pierre Thiriet took turns behind the wheel of the no.36 #alpine #a470, setting the second fastest time in the LMP2 category.

Since reliability is no longer an issue for the #alpine #a470, Signatech #alpine Matmut decided not to attempt a 24-hour plus race simulation. First and foremost, the technical programme involved going for out and out performance. With this in mind, each driver was given a set of new tyres to use in series of a few laps.


As Nicolas Lapierre, André Negrão and Pierre Thiriet were pleased with the balance of the car, Friday afternoon was devoted to working on the set-up in #racing conditions. At the end of a double stint by Negrão, the team ticked off another item on its checklist.


Whilst a handful of competitors continued to complete laps of the track throughout the night, the #alpine #a470 waited patiently in its garage for the following morning.


As the Mistral – the strong, north-westerly wind that blows through southern France – had picked up, the French squad worked on a different aerodynamic configuration for the second day. Unsurprisingly, the newcomer to the no.36 crew Pierre Thiriet spent the most time behind the wheel.


By the end of the thirty-hour session, the no.36 #alpine #a470 had completed 148 laps – i.e. 857 kilometres – with its fastest time set by Nicolas Lapierre in 1:41.088. This was the second best time in the LMP2 category.


The #alpine #a470 will be back at the Circuit Paul Ricard on 13-15 April: André Negrão and Pierre Thiriet will be making a one-off appearance at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, the opening round of the European Le Mans Series.