P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine: Lapierre “perfect teacher” for Schumacher’s WEC introduction
According to Philippe Sinault, team principal of Signatech, Lapierre is the ideal mentor for Schumacher in the #36 Alpine A424 LMDh, as Lapierre has extensive Le Mans 24 Hours experience. The decision to pair Schumacher with Lapierre and Vaxiviere for the first season of the A424 was driven by the goal of preparing Schumacher as quickly as possible. Lapierre and Vaxiviere were part of the winning line-up in two WEC races in 2022 aboard the Alpine-Gibson A480. Schumacher, who will continue as the reserve driver for Mercedes Formula 1, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to learn from experienced drivers. Sinault praised Schumacher’s attitude and eagerness to learn during his first sportscar test at Jerez in October. Lapierre highlighted Schumacher’s ability to fit into an endurance team and adapt to sharing a car, bringing fresh ideas and energy to the team. Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Paul-Loup Chatin will race the #35 Alpine in the WEC, with Sinault emphasizing that there is no hierarchy among the two cars. Both cars are expected to perform at the same level in the upcoming season.
