Alpine Elf Endurance Team got down to work for its final outing in the LMP2 category of the FIA WEC.

After two and a half days of service and preparation, the two Alpine A470s took to the track on Thursday for the first free practice session, marked by a sandstorm and thunderstorms at the Bahrain International Circuit.

British driver Olli Caldwell said: “The season is finished and I’d like to say a big thank you to the whole Alpine family and team for welcoming me into their Endurance programme.

“It was great to be alongside such experienced drivers in my first full season in the World Endurance Championship and it was a great experience to finish at Le Mans.

“I’ve learned a lot, but I still have much more to learn. It’s been a really good first year so thank you to everyone.”

Philippe Sinault’s men immediately got into the swing of things, completing their programme despite the weather conditions and handed over the qualifying duties to Charles Milesi and André Negrão.

The Frenchman put in a superb effort, scoring the team’s best performance of the season with the second position in a session defined by fine margins while his Brazilian teammate had to settle for eleventh place.

Shortly before noon on Saturday, Matthieu Vaxiviere and André Negrão got behind the wheel of their Alpine A470s.

A nervous field was unleashed after two formation laps and Matthieu Vaxiviere was forced to make an emergency move to avoid a collision at the first corner.

On his return to the track, however, the Frenchman was involved in an incident and fell to tenth place with a damaged bonnet at the front right. Meanwhile, André Negrão did well to avoid the hazards and climb to fifth place.

Put to the test in high temperatures, the team’s drivers intensified their efforts in a complicated double stint before Memo Rojas and Julien Canal took over their share of the work, alternating with Olli Caldwell and Charles Milesi.

As darkness fell in Bahrain, the two crews continued to dig in their heels.

Despite a five-second penalty for a pit lane infringement for the n°36 car, Les Bleusproved resilient and refused to give up.

In hour six of the race, André Negrão and Matthieu Vaxiviere were back behind the wheel to continue their teammates’ attacks before Olli Caldwell and Charles Milesi were on duty again.

Although their work enabled them to be among the fastest in the final sprint, the gap built by the leaders in the early stages proved insurmountable.

Charles Milesi and the n°36 A470 finished seventh with the fastest lap in LMP2, three places ahead of the n°35 and André Negrão.

Despite this frustrating result, Alpine leaves its successful LMP2 adventure with its head held high, with three world titles and two European crowns.

In total, the A-arrow brand notched up 13 victories, including three in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 36 podium finishes and 7 pole positions in the 60 races run in the class since its return to endurance racing in 2013.

The Alpine and Signatech teams will now use the winter to prepare their return to the premier Hypercar category with the Alpine A424, which will make its racing debut in Qatar from 24 February to 2 March 2024.

CLASSIFICATIONS 

8 Hours of Bahraïn – LMP2
1. Team WRT n°41
2. Team WRT n°31
3. JOTA n°28
7. Alpine Elf Endurance Team n°36
10. Alpine Elf Endurance Team n°35

FIA Endurance LMP2 Trophy
1. Team WRT n°41 – 173 points
2. Inter Europol Compétition – 114 points
3. United Autosports n°22 – 105 points
7. Alpine Elf Endurance Team n°36 – 83 points
11. Alpine Elf Endurance Team n°35 – 23 points