NEW CHALLENGES FOR THE ALPINE A480 IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

• The FIA WEC returns to Fuji Speedway (Japan) for the first time since 2019. • With two race wins so far this season, Nicolas Lapierre, André Negrão and Matthieu Vaxiviere will defend their World Endurance Championship leadership. • Driven by their desire to keep the momentum going, Alpine Elf Endurance Team will look to add another line to its impressive record in Japan.

Just a few days after its success in the Monza 6Hours, the Alpine A480 was sea-freighted to Fuji. It was only today [Monday]that Alpine Elf Endurance Team reunited with its Hypercar to fine-tune itspreparations for the penultimate round of the 2022 season.

The Fuji Speedway, located about 100 kilometresfrom Tokyo with Mount Fuji as a backdrop, is a genuine Endurance monument. The4.563 km long track is characterised by a 1.5 km pit-straight leading to asection of fast corners and two other more sinuous sectors.

The A-arrowed brand first excelled on this trackback in 1978, with the victory of the A441 of Masahiro Hasemi and KazuyoshiHoshino in the Fuji 500 kilometres. In the 21st century, Les Bleus soonechoed that glorious past, delighting its Japanese fans by popping champagne atFuji every year between 2015 and 2018. In 2015, the Alpine A450b even scoredits first world championship podium in LMP2 there!

After two cancelled editions due to thepandemic, Fuji is back on the calendar this year. Despite their experience,Alpine Elf Endurance Team will face new challenges, as this will be the firstrace for the A480 at Fuji. In addition to finding the perfect balance betweenaerodynamic finesse and efficient grip on tight corners, the team will alsohave to keep an eye on the skies as autumn rains arrive in the Japanesearchipelago.

The team is nonetheless determined to take fulladvantage of every opportunity that comes its way, ared with the operationalexcellence of its engineers and mechanics which led it to victory at Sebringand Monza. Despite the ever-increasing competition, the #36 Alpine A480 willalso benefit from the experience and cohesion of its drivers, more united thanever to remain at the top of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

André Negrão, Matthieu Vaxiviere and NicolasLapierre will join their rivals on Friday for the first two free practicesessions. A third session will take place on Saturday morning before qualifyingin the afternoon. The Fuji 6 Hours will start on Sunday at 11.00 am local time(GMT+9).

PhilippeSinault, Team Principal Alpine Elf Endurance Team

"Weare heading to Fuji in good shape, much better than we thought at the beginningof the year. We are extremely motivated and excited to return to Fuji and meetagain our many Japanese fans there. Fuji is a big name in internationalmotorsport and we have fond memories of it, even though, this year, we arechallenging our main rivals on their home turf. The circuit has specialcharacteristics, including a very long straight, which requires a compromisebetween top speed and aerodynamic load. Motricity on the exit of tight cornersand tyre wear are also important issues, especially if it rains. We will haveto be quick to respond and attentive to what is going on to remain proactive whenit comes to race developments and incidents. However, we are sure the qualitiesof our car will allow us to excel, and we intend to give it everything we have.The goal is to remain in contention for the title on merit before the season-finale,and this will require a good result, so at least a podium result."

Timetable (GMT+2)

Friday 9 September

4:00-5:30 am: Free practice 1

8:30-10:00 am: Free practice 2

Saturday 10 September

3:20-4:20 am: Free practice 3

8:00-8:10 am: Qualifying Hypercar

Sunday 11 September

4:00-10:00 am: 6 Hours of Fuji

ABOUT ALPINE

Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, the brand has set itself apart with itsFrench-style sports cars. In 2018, the brand presented the new A110, a sportscar faithful to Alpine's timeless principles of compactness, lightness, agilityand driving pleasure. The Alpine Business Unit was created in 2021 and thusbecame the brand dedicated to innovative, authentic, exclusive sportscars ofthe Renault Group, benefiting from the heritage and craftsmanship of itshistoric plant in Dieppe and the Alpine Racing and Alpine Cars teamsengineering mastery.

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