P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Gounon replaces Habsburg for Alpine Hypercar debut at Imola’s WEC round
Ferdinand Habsburg, a two-time GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup winner with Mercedes, has claimed the Habsburg’s seat in the #35 A424 LMDh car alongside Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup as the official reserve for the Alpine Endurance Team. Unfortunately, Habsburg will miss the second round of the 2024 WEC due to sustaining two fractured vertebrae during an endurance test in March. Alpine team principal Philippe Sinault expressed confidence in Habsburg’s abilities but acknowledged the challenges of his early debut. Habsburg’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, with Alpine yet to confirm his availability for the third round at Spa in May. Meanwhile, Tristan Gounon will replace Habsburg at Imola, marking his first race with the Alpine team in a prototype car. The team’s focus at Imola will be on gathering data and continuing to improve ahead of future races.
