Credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI
Lapierre currently holds the record for being the longest-serving driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship, having competed in every season up to the present day.
However, his involvement in sportscar racing began long before the inaugural season in 2012. This year, he demonstrated his loyalty to Alpine by joining them in the Hypercar category.
Throughout his career, Lapierre has achieved numerous successes, including a victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, four wins in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and two WEC LMP2 titles.
At the age of 40, Lapierre’s passion for sportscars remains strong, as he discovered his love for the discipline in the mid-to-late 2000s when his focus shifted from single-seaters and the dream of Formula 1.
In 2007, during his final GP2 season, Lapierre made his debut in sportscar racing, driving for Team Oreca’s Saleen S7-R GT1 alongside teammates Stephane Ortelli and Soheil Ayari.
Lapierre recalled, “At the time, there weren’t many young drivers racing in sportscars. Le Mans and endurance racing were seen as the second part of a career, so I was a bit surprised. It was Hugues de Chaunac, the founder and boss of Oreca, who called me while I was still racing in GP2. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Le Mans. I was more focused on single-seaters and my ultimate goal was Formula 1. However, as my GP2 career progressed, I realized that the path to F1 was becoming narrower. So I decided to open up my horizons and check out this race. I went to Le Mans in 2007, and it was a completely different experience. I had to take good care of the car, be cautious with the engine, and stick to a specific lap time. It was super exciting and suited me better than single-seaters, where I sometimes felt too nice with people.”
While Lapierre had notable achievements in single-seaters, including a win at the Macau GP and two victories in GP2, he found sportscar racing to be a more fulfilling discipline. He explained, “When I went to Le Mans, I realized that I wasn’t alone in the car. I had teammates, and I wanted them to perform well so that our overall result would be better. I fell in love with this category and the environment. The car may not have been as fun to drive as a GP2 car, but the paddock and the atmosphere suited me better. After that, Oreca approached me and asked me to sign a long-term contract with them as they were returning to prototypes. I had the option to continue in GP2 with one of the best teams at the time, but I declined and switched to sportscars in 2008. It wasn’t a common move, as most drivers were focused on DTM, Formula Nippon, or IndyCar. But I truly fell in love with sportscars, and I’ve been racing in this discipline ever since.”
Lapierre’s partnership with Oreca continued as he ventured into LMP1 with an open-top prototype and later joined Peugeot’s LMP1 project. He has been associated with Oreca for most of his career, and even now, the Alpine A424 LMDh’s chassis is developed by Oreca.
One of the significant figures in Lapierre’s career is Hugues de Chaunac, who played a crucial role in his journey. De Chaunac’s Oreca brand partnered with Toyota for their WEC hybrid project from 2012 to 2015. Lapierre described de Chaunac as charismatic and initially intimidating, but also a kind person once trust was established. Lapierre acknowledged de Chaunac’s importance in his career, as they have been working together for many years.
In 2015, Lapierre achieved his first Le Mans victory in the LMP2 class with KCMG, driving an Oreca 05. Since 2016, Lapierre has predominantly raced for Alpine, reuniting with Philippe Sinault’s Signatech (or Signature) outfit, with whom he had worked in his early career. Lapierre expressed his close relationship with Sinault, who had taken care of him since he was a young driver. Sinault played a significant role in Lapierre’s development and success, and their collaboration has been fruitful, including three Le Mans wins together.
In 2023, Lapierre focused on the development of his own Cool Racing LMP2 team as team principal but refrained from racing, except for Alpine’s LMP2 commitments in the WEC. Lapierre emphasized the special relationship he shares with Sinault, who has been supportive throughout his career. Sinault’s ability to understand and connect with drivers is commendable, and he excels at building strong teams.
This year, Alpine made their official debut in the Hypercar category with two A424 LMDh cars, facing tough competition from nine manufacturers and 19 Hypercars. They have completed two rounds of the 2024 FIA WEC season, with points secured at the season opener and some challenges at Imola. Lapierre praised his teammate Mick Schumacher, who adapted quickly to sportscar racing and showed impressive performance in rainy conditions.
Looking ahead, Alpine will compete in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, followed by the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. This will be Alpine’s first appearance in the top category at Le Mans in 46 years. Lapierre expressed the team’s focus on finishing races and gaining valuable data in their first season. They aim to improve race by race and set clear targets for the next season. Lapierre acknowledged the competitiveness of the field and the need for Alpine to go through a learning year before aiming higher in the future.