2016 MEDIA GUIDE FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

MEDIA CONTACTS

Christophe Deville Press Officer, Alpine Tel: +33 6 72 84 63 24 Email: christophe.deville@alpinecars.com

Marie-Hélène Bacle Press Officer, Signatech-Alpine Tel: +33 6 64 13 84 49 Email: mariehelenebacle@gmail.com

alpinecars.com signatech-alpine.com media.renault.com

@Alpine_Cars @SignatureRace

/alpinesportscars /SignatureRace

/alpine_cars /signatech_alpine

“After claiming back-to-back titles in the European Championship [ELMS] in 2013 and 2014, Signatech- Alpine showcased its professionalism and potential at world level in 2015 and has set its sights higher still in 2016. This year, the team is contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] with two new A460 prototypes – one of which will be run in association with the Chinese outfit DC Racing – and a line-up of six talented drivers. Under the leadership of Philippe Sinault, Signatech-Alpine will continue to fuel the passion of Alpine fans worldwide.”

Bernard Ollivier Deputy Managing Director, Alpine

“Alpine’s commitment to endurance racing is being stepped up year after year. Last season, our first at FIA WEC level, was marked by a class win at the 6 Hours of Shanghai. This year, as we seek to add to our record, there is much about the team that is new, from our driver line-up and cars to the way we are organised. We are proud to have forged an association with DC Racing which means we are able to run two A460s. This is an obvious advantage and opens up fresh opportunities in terms of race strategy. It’s now down to us to harness all this potential to achieve even more success for Alpine.”

Philippe Sinault Team Principal, Signatech-Alpine

ALPINE’S FAMILY

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01Program 2016

02ALPINE A460

03Signatech-Alpine

04Drivers (N°35 car)

06The FIA WEC in brief05

Drivers (N°36 car)

07Alpine and endurance racing

CONTENTS

01

PROGRAM 2016The expansion of Alpine’s motorsport programme conti-nues in 2016 with the entry of two new Alpine A460 prototypes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Being able to run two top-flight crews will allow Signatech-Alpine to step up its ambitions for its second season in endurance racing’s premier series. After winning last year’s 6 Hours of Shanghai and coming fourth in the 2015 FIA WEC (LMP2), the team is looking to continue its ascension to the very top of the pyramid.

The N°35 car (entered under the name of Baxi DC Racing Alpine) will be in the hands of Frenchman Nelson Panciatici – a cornerstone of the team since the programme’s early days in 2013 – and Chinese drivers David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung. Formed by SR-Jackie Chan and David Cheng, DC Racing won several Asian Le Mans Series titles before joining forces for this year’s FIA WEC campaign with Signatech-Alpine who will run the programme’s technical, sporting and logistical sides.

The N°36 car – the number which claimed back-to-back ELMS crowns in 2013 and 2014, as well as a top-three finish in the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2014 – will be shared by three newcomers to the Alpine fold, namely Frenchman Nicolas Lapierre, the USA’s Gustavo Menezes and Monegasque Stéphane Richelmi.

Both crews will contest all nine rounds of the 2016 FIA WEC, the highlight of which is June’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

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02

ALPINE A460

The 2016 season marks the debut of the new Alpine A460 prototype, the name of which continues a lineage that started in the 1970s with the A440.

With new LM P2 regulations due to come into force in 2017, the Alpine A460 features an FIA-homologated chassis. Compared with its predecessor, it features a closed cockpit

for enhanced driver safety and aerodynamic efficiency. It is the first closed-cockpit Alpine since the A220 of 1969.

The Alpine A460 is powered by the same 4.5-litre V8 as the A450b. This Renault-Nissan Alliance powerplant delivers more than 550 horsepower and drives through a six-speed sequential gearbox.

TECHNICAL DATA

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CHASSIS Structure ....................... Carbon, honeycomb monocoqueBodywork ..................... Carbon/kevlarSuspension ................... Double wishbone and pushrodsSteering ........................ Electric power assistanceLength ........................... 4,640mmWidth ............................. 1,990mmHeight ........................... 1,045mmFront track ................... 1,570mmRear track ..................... 1,550mmWheelbase ................... 2,950mmWeight ........................... 900kg

ENGINEType ............................... Nissan VK45Configuration .............. V8 at 90°Cubic capacity ............. 4,494ccWeight ........................... 150kgMaximum power ........ 550hp (410kW)Maximum torque ....... 580NmLubrication ................... Dry sump / staged oil pump

GEARBOXMake .............................. XtracType ............................... Transverse, magnesium casingGearshift ....................... Steering wheel mounted paddle shifts, pneumatic controlSpeeds ........................... Six speeds plus reverse

WHEELSTyres .............................. Dunlop 30-65/R18 (front), 31-71/R18 (rear)Front rims .................... 12.5’’x18’’Rear rims ...................... 13’’x18’’

BRAKESFront discs.................... Brembo vented carbon Ø380x37mmRear discs ..................... Brembo vented carbon Ø355x37mmCallipers ........................ Brembo, monobloc, six pistons

SAFETYHarness belt ................ Six-point, suitable for use with Hans®Fuel tank ...................... 75-litre safety bladder with integrated reserve systeme

03

SIGNATECH-ALPINESignatech has 25 years of experience in top-flight inter-national single-seater and endurance racing. Based in Bourges, central France, it has been tasked with running the sporting, technical and logistical sides of Alpine’s motor racing programme since 2013.

Signatech employs a total staff of around 40 people who work in the company’s racing, special events and engineering departments.

Two workshops totalling 2,500 square metres are dedicated to the design, assembly and race teams, along with an engineering department (Solidworks prototyping platform), a composites workshop and a machine shop. The team also owns an Ellip6 simulator for driver training and technical development.

Signatech’s record in single-seater and endurance racing (as of the start of 2016) includes 17 championship titles, 79 race wins, 50 pole positions, 485 podium finishes and 49 fastest race laps.

MANAGEMENTTeam Principal Philippe Sinault

Technical director Lionel Chevalier

#35 race engineer Christophe Boitin

#36 race engineer Olivier Bacchis

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04BAXI DC RACING - ALPINE // ALPINE A460 #35

SPONSORS #35

RECORD2015 FIA WEC 18th (4th LMP2)

2014 ELMS 1st

2013 ELMS 1st

2011 FR 3.5 Series 9th

2008 F3 España 2nd

24 HEURES DU MANS2015 Retired

2014 7th (3rd LMP2)

2013 14th (8th LMP2)

2012 10th (4th LMP2) - Jean Rondeau trophy

NELSON PANCIATICIDate and place of birth: 26/09/1988 Reims, France

nelsonpancia.fr

/NelsonPancia

@nelsonpancia

Nelson Panciatici is the son of a former rally driver and was taken under the wing of the Renault Driver Deve-lopment programme after making a name for himself in Formula Renault 2.0. Very soon, he was knocking on the door of Formula 1 before deciding instead to turn his attention to endurance racing in 2012. With Signatech- Alpine, he has contributed to two ELMS titles, a top-three finish at Le Mans and the team’s first FIA WEC victory.

DAVID CHENGDate and place of birth: 21/07/1989 Beijing, China

dchengracing.com

David Cheng made his debut in karting before climbing the single-seater ladder in the USA and Asia. His successful conversion to GT and prototype racing led him to form his own team – DC Racing – in association with Jackie Chan. In its first year, 2015, DC Racing won the LMP3 class in the Asian Le Mans Series with David Cheng as part of the driver line-up.

RECORD2016 Asian Le Mans Series 1st (LMP3)

2014 Asian Le Mans Series 1st

2013 Asian Le Mans Series 1st

2011 Pacific F2000 2nd

2010 Pacific F2000 2nd

24 HEURES DU MANS2015 19th (9th LMP2)

2014 12th (7th LMP2)

HO-PIN TUNGDate and place of birth: 04/12/1982 Velp, Netherlands

hopintung.com

/OfficialHopinTung

@hopintung

Netherlands-born Ho-Pin Tung kicked off his career in Europe before winning the inaugural Asian Formula BMW championship. He was the first Chinese driver to pilot a Formula 1 car, in 2003. In 2010, he signed for Renault F1 Team before gradually steering his career towards endurance racing. He has won two Asian Le Mans Series titles.

RECORD2016 Asian Le Mans Series 1st (LMP3)

2015 Porsche Cup Asia 4th

2014 Asian Le Mans Series 1st

2013 Asian Le Mans Series 3rd

2003 Formula BMW Asia 1st

24 HEURES DU MANS2015 19th (9th LMP2)

2014 12th (7th LMP2)

2013 Retired

05

STÉPHANE RICHELMIDate and place of birth: 04/03/1990 Monaco

richelmi.it

/stephane.richelmi

@StefRike

Like team-mate Nelson Panciatici, Stéphane Richelmi is the son of a talented rally driver who preferred to take up circuit racing. His career has taken him from karting to Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3 and GP2 Series, the final stepping stone before Formula 1. In 2014, his third season in the latter saw him win in the streets of Monaco in addition to contributing to Dams’ title at the end of the season. He made his endurance racing debut in 2014 (GT3).

RECORD2015 Blancpain Sprint Series 6th

2014 GP2 Series 9th

2013 GP2 Seriesy 18th

2012 GP2 Series 9th

2010 F3 Italia 2nd

GUSTAVO MENEZESDate and place of birth: 19/09/1994 Los Angeles, USA

gustavomenezes.com

/gustavomenezesracing

@followgustavo

One of North America’s latest crop of talented young drivers, Gustavo Menezes has solid experience in fiercely-fought competitions like Formula Renault 2.0, the Star Mazda series and Formula 3. The Californian also has experience of endurance racing in North America’s USCC (United SportsCar Championship). He was notably fourth in class at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

RECORD2015 FIA F3 Europe 13th

2014 FIA F3 Europe 11th

2013 F3 Germany 4th

2012 Star Mazda 9th

2011 Star Mazda 8th

RECORD2015 FIA WEC 16th (5th LMP2)

2014 FIA WEC 6th

2013 FIA WEC 4th

2012 FIA WEC 3rd

2006 A1 GP 1st (Team France)

2003 Macau F3 GP 1st

24 HEURES DU MANS2015 9th (1st LMP2) 2011 5th

2014 3rd 2010 Retired

2013 4th 2009 5th

2012 Retired 2007 16th (9th GT1)

NICOLAS LAPIERREDate and place of birth: 02/04/1984 Thonon-les-Bains, France

nicolaslapierre.com

/NicolasLapierreOffficiel

@Nico_Lapierre

French all-rounder Nicolas Lapierre boasts an enviable record. After being spotted for his speed in karting, he won the 2003 Macau Grand Prix with Signature. Victory in the inaugural A1 GP attracted the attention of the leading LMP1 teams and he was recruited by Oreca, then Toyota, with whom he won five WEC races outright. In 2015, he returned to LMP2 racing and won the class at Le Mans.

SPONSORS #36

SIGNATECH ALPINE // ALPINE A460 #36

06 THE FIA WEC IN BRIEF/ The FIA WEC field is divided into four classes:

LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes (the Alpine A460 competes in the LMP2 class), plus LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am (GT cars).

/ LMP2 prototypes (Le Mans Prototype 2) are racing cars which do not require a minimum production run. They can be open- or closed-cockpit cars. Their maxi-mum retail price is capped by the regulations.

/ The engines used in LMP2 must be homologated. Cubic capacity is capped at 5,000cc in the case of normally-aspirated engines (up to eight cylinders) and at 3,200cc in the case of turbocharged engines (up to six cylinders).

/ If a given LMP2 car is deemed to be too fast, the Endurance Committee can adjust its performance by lowering its power output (by up to 5%), increasing its weight (by up to 30kg) or reducing the size of its fuel tank (by 10 litres).

/ Private testing is restricted to 10 days per car in LMP2.

/ Race numbers in LMP2 are white on a blue background.

/ LMP2 crews must include at least one FIA-listed ‘Silver’ or ‘Bronze’ driver (lists based on previous results).

/ The maximum number of slick tyres that can be used per six-hour race is three sets (free practice, qualifying and the race).

/ In the case of six-hour races, qualifying sessions last 20 minutes. Two drivers must take part. Grid positions are based on the average of each driver’s fastest lap.

/ The points-scoring system is 1st: 25 points / 2nd: 18 points / 3rd: 15 points / 4th: 12 points / 5th: 10 points / 6th: 8 points / 7th: 6 points / 8th: 4 points / 9th: 2 points / 10th: 1 point / 11th or lower: 0.5 point. Points are doubled for Le Mans. An additional point is awarded for claiming pole position (fastest lap of the session) in each class.

/ A driver must spend at least 1.25 hours in the car to be eligible to score points. The maximum time any one driver can spend in the car is 3.5 hours (six-hour races).

/ The FIA World Endurance Championship Drivers’ title is for LMP1 and LMP2 drivers only (combined classifi-cation).

/ At the end of the season, the best-placed team and drivers in LMP2 are awarded FIA Endurance Trophies.

2016 CALENDAR17 April 6 Hours of Silverstone GBR

7 May WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps BEL

5 June Official Le Mans Test Day FRA

18-19 June 24 Hours of Le Mans FRA

24 July 6 Hours of Nürburgring DEU

3 September 6 Hours of Mexico MEX

17 September 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas USA

16 October 6 Hours of Fuji JPN

6 November 6 Hours of Shanghai CHN

19 November 6 Hours of Bahrain BHR

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1963 - ALPINE M63 1964 - ALPINE M64

1965 - ALPINE M65 1966 - ALPINE A210

1968 - ALPINE A220 1975 - ALPINE A441

1975 - ALPINE A442 1978 - ALPINE A442 B

2015 - ALPINE A450B 2016 - ALPINE A460

07

VICTORY AT LE MANS!

In 1973, the company was taken over by Renault and the new A440 was presented as a Renault-Alpine. The car’s endurance racing programme was divided into two phases, beginning with an assault on the Two-litre European Sport-Prototype Championship, followed by the production of a car capable of winning at Le Mans.

The Renault Alpine A440 was honed to become the A441 which proved highly successful, winning the European title in 1974. A new 490hp 1,996cc turbocharged engine was grafted into what would become the A442.

Following the creation of Renault Sport, significant resources were committed to contesting the 1976 World Championship for Makes.

Success was slow in coming, although the single A442 entered for Le Mans qualified on pole position. It retired shortly before the race’s halfway point.

This experience led Renault Sport to focus exclusively on the French race and the team’s four-car entry in 1978 was rewarded with victory thanks to the Alpine A442B of veteran Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, 41, and 26-year old Didier Pironi. This success enabled Renault to reallocate its resources to Formula 1.

Three-and-a-half decades later, in support of the brand’s revival plans, Alpine returned to motor racing. The new Alpine A450 secured back-to-back European Le Mans Series titles in 2013 and 2014, as well as an LM P2 podium finish at Le Mans in 2014 (seventh overall). In 2013, the team was awarded the ESCRA trophy for the best technical assistance at Le Mans.

The 2015 season saw Signatech-Alpine switch to the FIA World Endurance Championship which harvested fourth place in the final LM P2 standings and a class win at the 6 Hours of Shanghai in China.

“THE WORLD’S FASTEST LITRE OF FUEL”

In 1962, Jean Rédélé started the development of a car to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours. Three Alpine M63s were entered for the 1963 race. None reached the finish, but the performance of the French prototypes, which were powered by a small, Amédée Gordini-tuned 996cc engine, caused observers to sit up and take notice.

It was the start of a fascinating adventure and Alpine’s approach placed the emphasis on streamlined bodies and small, fuel-efficient engines with a view to targeting the French race’s Energy Efficiency and Performance Index prizes.

In addition to being successful in these categories at Le Mans, Alpine claimed a number of class wins at other circuits and even secured its first outright victory when Mauro and Lucien Bianchi won the Nürburgring 500km in 1965 sharing an M65.

The introduction of the Alpine A210, which resembled the M65, marked a turning point. It finally convinced Renault to invest in the development of a three-litre V8 with a view to winning Le Mans. The first attempts of the model’s A211 and A220 offshoots were unsuccessful, but the project started to gain momentum.

ALPINE AND ENDURANCE RACINGJean Rédélé saw motorsport as an opportunity to boost Alpine’s development. Very soon, his cars were successful in rallying, single-seater racing and endurance racing alike and the make’s fan base grew quickly. Alpine’s association with Le Mans can be divided into two phases: a ‘blue’ period (from 1963 to 1969) and a ‘yellow’ period (1973 to 1978).

24 HEURES DU MANS

1963Sté des Automobiles Alpine M63 50 Boyer / Verrier 227 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M63 49 Frescobaldi / Richard 63 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M63 48 Rosinski / Heins 50 L

1964Sté des Automobiles Alpine M64 46 De Lageneste / Morrogh 17th C E

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M63B 59 Masson / Zeccoli 20th

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M64 47 Bianchi / Vinatier NC (230 L)

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M64 54 Grandsire / Vidal 133 L

1965Sté des Automobiles Alpine M65 47 De Lageneste / Vinatier 196 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M64 55 Hanrioud / Cheinisse 196 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M63B 61 Bouharde / Monneret 187 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M64 51 Masson / Verrier 148 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M64 50 Revson / Vidal 116 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine M65 46 Bianchi / Grandsire 32 L

1966Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 62 Grandsire / Cella 9th C

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 45 Verrier / Bouharde 12th

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 46 Vinatier / Bianchi 13th

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 47 Jansson / Toivonen 217 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 55 de Cortanze / Hanrioud 118 L

Écurie Savin–Calberson A210 44 Cheinisse/De Lageneste 11th E

1967Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 46 Grandsire / Rosinski 9th C

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 45 Vinatier / Bianchi 13th C

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 47 Bouharde / Andruet 219 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 58 Vidal / Cella 67 L

1968Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220 30 de Cortanze / Vinatier 8th

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 52 Thérier / Tramont 10th C P

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 55 Nicolas / Andruet 14th E

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220 29 Guichet / Jabouille 185 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 56 Marnat / Gerbault 71 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220 28 Grandsire / Larrousse 59 L

1969Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 50 Serpaggi / Ethuin 12th C P

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A210 45 Wollek / Killy 242 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220/69 29 Depailler / Jabouille 209 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220/68 31 Thérier / Nicolas 160 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220/69 28 de Cortanze / Vinatier 133 L

Sté des Automobiles Alpine A220/69 30 Grandsire / Andruet 48 L

1976Renault Sport A442 19 Jabouille / Tambay / Dolhem 160 L PP FL

1977Renault Sport A442 8 Laffite / Depailler 289 L

Renault Sport A442 9 Jabouille / Bell NC PP

Renault Sport A442 7 Tambay / Jaussaud 158 L

1978Renault Sport A442B 2 Pironi / Jaussaud 1st

Renault Sport A442A 4 Fréquelin / Ragnotti / Dolhem / Jabouille 4th FL

Renault Sport A443 1 Jabouille / Depailler 279 L

Renault Sport A442A 3 Bell / Jarier 162 L

2013Signatech-Alpine A450 36 Gommendy / Panciatici / Ragues 14th (8th LMP2)

2014Signatech-Alpine A450b 36 Chatin / Panciatici / Webb 7th (3rd LMP2)

2015Signatech-Alpine A450b 36 Capillaire / Chatin / Panciatici 110 L

L: laps

C: class win

E: Prix de l’Efficacité Energétique

P: Prix de la Performance

PP: pole position

FL: fastest race lap