Alpine brings its 1978 Le Mans winner to Monza for its last WEC race

Alpine Endurance Team starts its final FIA World Endurance Championship weekend at Monza, and it has brought the car that started the story. The Renault Alpine A442B that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978 stands alongside the Alpine A424 at the 6 Hours of Monza, Alpine confirmed in a release on Friday, 6 November.

All session times in CET, UK and US Eastern: WEC Monza 2026 schedule.

1978 and 2026: two decisions to leave endurance racing for Formula 1

The A442B won Le Mans in 1978 with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Didier Pironi. In that same year Alpine ended its endurance programme to focus on Formula 1. Almost half a century later the pattern repeats. Alpine announced in February that its WEC programme ends after the 2026 season, as part of a prioritisation of projects and investment, with its motorsport strategy now focused on Formula 1.

The release points to 1978 as a precedent and notes that programmes end and can restart. For now, Alpine’s racing continues only in Formula 1.

“Last Dance in Blue”

Axel Plasse, VP Alpine Tech, said: “Bringing the A442B and A424 together at Monza is a powerful reminder of the passion for motorsport and how it can evolve.” He added: “Our priority this weekend is to honour their contribution through our performance on track. This chapter closes, with the same spirit as ever.”

Team principal Philippe Sinault, who has led the programme since its return in 2013, called the final weekend a “Last Dance in Blue”. “As we embark together on this “Last Dance in Blue”, our ambitions are higher than ever,” he said. “We are all determined to shine and to make our Alpine A424 shine once again.”

From Signatech in 2013 to a Hypercar win at Fuji

Jean Rédélé founded Alpine in 1955, and the brand first raced at Le Mans in 1963. Its current endurance chapter began in 2013 with Signatech, led by Sinault. Alpine lists European Le Mans Series titles in 2013 and 2014, LMP2 world titles in 2016 and 2018-19, LMP2 class wins at Le Mans in 2016, 2018 and 2019, an overall Le Mans podium in 2021 and outright wins at Sebring and Monza in 2022.

The A424 Hypercar arrived in 2024 and took its first podium at Fuji that year. Its first victory followed at Fuji in 2025.

Milesi and Habsburg in the #35, Gounon and Martins in the #36

Alpine races two A424s at Monza with two drivers each: Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg in the #35, Jules Gounon and Victor Martins in the #36 (WEC Monza 2026 entry list). This season the team scored a podium and a double top-five finish in Austin, then second and fourth places at the 6 Hours of Fuji.

Our read

Alpine leaves at the moment its Hypercar finally became a front runner, and that is the painful part. The A424 won for the first time at Fuji in 2025 and was back on the podium twice this season, and that investment now goes to Formula 1. The 1978 parallel is honest, though: Alpine also left after winning Le Mans and came back decades later. Bringing the A442B to Monza tells the paddock the door is closed, not locked.

Hyperpole on Saturday at 15:20 CET, the race on Sunday at 11:00 CET

Final practice runs on Saturday 7 November at 10:30 CET (09:30 UK, 04:30 ET). Hypercar qualifying follows at 15:00 CET (14:00 UK, 09:00 ET) and Hyperpole at 15:20 CET (14:20 UK, 09:20 ET). The 6 Hours of Monza starts on Sunday 8 November at 11:00 CET (10:00 UK, 05:00 ET) and finishes at 17:00 CET. Monza runs on CET. The title fight is in our WEC Monza 2026 preview.

Source: Alpine, “Alpine at Monza: two milestones, one history. Racing spirit forever.” (6 November 2026); FIA WEC entry list.

Should Alpine come back to endurance racing one day, as it did after 1978? Tell us in the comments.