Mick Schumacher will return to full-time racing next season with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship, the Mercedes F1 reserve completing the French manufacturer’s line-up for its factory LMDh programme.
Alpine has yet to pair its drivers, but its 2024 roster will include incumbents Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Charles Milesi, and new recruits Ferdinand Habsburg, Paul-Loup Chatin and Schumacher.
Alpine is set to present its 2024 WEC campaign at a special event that will take place next year on February 7.
Schumacher convinced Alpine and its partner Signatech to rely on his services following a positive test conducted last month at Jerez.
"A new chapter is beginning for me with Alpine in the FIA WEC Hypercar category,” said Schumacher.
“The car is impressive, and I can't wait to get started. I've grown up with single-seaters, so driving a car with a closed cockpit and covered wheels is a great opportunity to hone my driving skills.
“I sorely missed racing this year; it's what I've loved to do since I was a kid, and it was sometimes difficult to watch the other drivers take to the track.
“Endurance racing is a new challenge for me, and I'm sure we will share great moments together next year with Alpine."
Alpine will step up to the WEC’s top class along with new entrants BMW and Lamborghini. Its A424 LMDh car, built on an Oreca LMP2 chassis, is equipped with a 3.4-liter single-turbo V6 engine developed in collaboration with Mecachrome.
©Alpine
“At this decisive phase for the A424 programme, we are proud to reveal the six drivers who will race for us in the Hypercar category in 2024.-,” commented Bruno Famin, VP of Alpine Motorsports.
"With [Signatech boss] Philippe Sinault, we wanted drivers who are not only fast and reliable, but also showing a real team spirit and good racing acumen to best represent the Alpine colours in the premier category of the World Endurance Championship.
“We are absolutely delighted to have these six drivers and we hope they will all bring their own experience and qualities to the project, for example Charles with his youth, Nicolas with his experience in endurance to mentor the younger drivers, and also Mick, with his experience gained at the highest level.
“It might be his first foray into Endurance, but his enthusiasm for the project and his will to join us are palpable. I’m sure he will be a real asset.”
In addition to his WEC programme with Alpine, Schumacher will remain Mercedes’ first reserve in F1 in 2024.
“Mick has a place here as our reserve driver and is part of the family,” said Toto Wolff last September.
"We will give him time in the car and he" can get a works seat with another manufacturer in WEC or sportscars or wherever.
“We will always have this home here for him. Whatever programme he does decide, he can stay, if it is possible from the other side, with us as a reserve driver.”
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