'Captain' Alonso leads Alpine charge for virtual Le Mans 24 Hours

Fernando Alonso has joined the star-studded grid of drivers that will tackle this weekend's virtual Le Mans 24 Hours, with the two-time F1 champion leading the charge for Alpine.

Officially sanctioned by the ACO and run on the rFactor 2 sim platform, the virtual Le Mans 24 Hours is the fifth event to cap off a five-race series that started last September with a four-hour stint around Monza.

This weekend's battle in the Sarthe will feature, as usual, two categories: LMP2 and GTE, with each team's line-up including a blend of gamers and real-life racers.

Read also: Verstappen signs up for virtual Le Mans 24 Hours!

F1 world champion Max Verstappen will spearhead the efforts of Team Redline, while Alonso will be onboard the #36 Alpine and seconded by Alpine Academy driver Victor Martins, Michelin Le Mans Cup driver Sacha Lehmann, and Alpine eSports drivers Patrik Sipos and Olli Pahkala.

"I'm thrilled to be the captain of the #36 Alpine in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual," Alonso said.

"I love endurance racing and it's always good to stay in touch with motorsport from a personal point of view. In recent years, sim racing has become more professional and popular. I'm a big esports fan in general.

"I'm looking forward to helping Victor Martins, one of our Alpine Academy drivers. He has experience in sim racing, and I'm sure the #36, along with the other excellent drivers, will be competitive."

The 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual will kick off on Saturday at 14h00 CET (13h00 UK) and will be streamed live on Eurosport, ESPN, Sky Sports as well as on the FIA WEC app and on the latter's YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitch channels.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.