Alpine unveils the World’s lightest racing Suit for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
A fusion of cutting‑edge engineering and contemporary art marks Alpine’s boldest Le Mans statement yet.
Just days before the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, Alpine has revealed a groundbreaking innovation that blends technology, heritage, and modern art. In collaboration with Sabelt and the renowned Italian artistic duo Van Orton, the Alpine Endurance Team has introduced the world’s lightest FIA‑approved racing suit, a 275‑gram engineering masterpiece designed specifically for the Hypercar programme. The suit not only pushes technical boundaries but also serves as a vibrant tribute to more than six decades of Alpine history at Le Mans.
A Technical Breakthrough in Racing Apparel
The newly developed Sabelt TS‑12 Hypercolor suit represents a major leap forward in motorsport equipment. Weighing just 275 grams, significantly lighter than the previous 440‑gram generation, it sets a new benchmark for FIA‑compliant racing gear. The ultra‑light fabric structure improves breathability and comfort while maintaining the highest safety standards required for endurance racing.
Thanks to an innovative manufacturing process, the suit can incorporate complex graphics, detailed patterns, and a wide colour palette without compromising performance. This technological freedom allowed Van Orton’s artistic vision to be fully realised on a functional racing garment.
A Tribute to Alpine’s Le Mans Legacy
The suit’s design celebrates three iconic Alpine machines that shaped the brand’s endurance racing identity:
- Alpine M63 (1963): the marque’s first-ever Le Mans entry.
- Renault Alpine A442B (1978): the car that delivered Alpine’s historic overall victory.
- Alpine A424 (2026): the Hypercar carrying the team’s hopes in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
Van Orton’s signature style, bold geometry, vibrant colours, and pop‑art influences, transforms the suit into a wearable canvas. It marks the first time a Hypercar manufacturer in the FIA WEC has adopted a contemporary art‑driven livery for its driver apparel.
A Collaboration That Blends Performance and Culture
The project highlights Alpine’s ambition to merge motorsport innovation with artistic expression. For the brand, Le Mans is more than a race, it is a cultural platform. By integrating art into its Hypercar programme, Alpine positions itself as a pioneer willing to push boundaries both on and off the track.
Van Orton describes the suit as an attempt to “convey emotion, energy and visual memory” through a highly technical product. Sabelt emphasises the importance of bridging performance and creativity, while Alpine sees the collaboration as a reflection of its DNA: boldness, elegance, and a forward‑looking spirit.
A Statement Ahead of the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
Unveiled during scrutineering and showcased again on Test Day, the suit signals Alpine’s intent to make an impact at the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the A424 Hypercar entries of da Costa / Habsburg / Milesi and Gounon / Makowiecki / Martins, the French manufacturer aims to honour its past while shaping the future of endurance racing.
The world’s lightest racing suit is more than a technical achievement, it is a symbol of Alpine’s evolving identity, where engineering excellence meets artistic innovation.
More WEC: the full 2026 calendar, every race result and all of our reporting from the World Endurance Championship are collected on our FIA WEC hub.
