Alpine A480 technical sheet at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – Motorsport.com, Edition: France

For the first time since its return to Endurance, Alpine is entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the premier class. If the LMP1 gave way to the Hypercar, the French brand took advantage of a derogation to join the fight for the general classification, and to play a sort of referee between the all new LMHs from Toyota and Glickenhaus.

To do this, after several years of success in LMP2, Alpine acquired the LMP1 chassis originally designed by Oreca for Rebellion. By recovering this particularly reliable and proven model at Le Mans, but whose performance has obviously been reduced to adapt it to the new Hypercar category, Alpine has brought its touch to it through Signatech, which manages the Endurance program of the French manufacturer. Thus was born the A480, a former LMP1 prototype now reclassified as a Hypercar and entrusted to Nicolas lapierre, André Negrão and Matthieu Vaxiviere.

“Oreca has forged a strong bond with Alpine and Signatech”, rightly reminds Hugues de Chaunac, president of Oreca. “We must not forget that Team Oreca’s first participation was with… an Alpine in 1977! With Philippe Sinault, it is also a long-standing story, which took a new turn in 2009 during the Arrival of Signatech in Endurance. Since 2013, Alpine, Signatech and Oreca have taken up challenges together: it was until now in LMP2, with victories at Le Mans and various titles, it is now in the premier class with the A480 . ”

“Seeing this car adorned with this blue is necessarily special. We are proud and happy to provide our technical support with a delegation of Oreca members who bring their knowledge of the car to different levels. We are therefore continuing this work hand in hand. hand with a team of rare quality which has established itself as a benchmark in the discipline. “

Alpine A480, his identity card

Frame

Composition: carbon shell and honeycomb

Length : 4645 mm

Width : 1995 mm

Height : 1045 mm

Weight : 900 kg (may vary depending on the BoP)

Front track: 1560 mm

Rear track: 1550 mm

Wheelbase: 2905 mm

Suspensions: double wishbones steel with push-buttons

Adjustable shock absorbers: specific 4-way PKM / Oreca shocks

Tires: Michelin 31-71 / R18

Rims: 13”x18 ‘Magnesium Foundry BBS

Direction : electric assist

Bodywork: carbon / kevlar

Motor

4500cc Gibson GL-458 90 ° V8

Maximum speed: 8400 rpm

Lubrication: dry sump / stage oil pump

Electronic management: Cosworth

Powerful : 625 hp

Gearbox

Mark : Xtrac

Type: transverse magnesium housing

Changing gears: paddles on the steering wheel / pneumatic control

Reports : 6 + reverse

Brakes

Type: ventilated carbon discs

Stirrups: monobloc 6 pistons

Security

Six point harness suitable for the Hans system

Secure flexible fuel tank with integrated fuel reserve system