Alpine Endurance reserve driver Jules Gounon shared in an interview that among all the LMDh cars, the Alpine A424 is particularly rigid on the track. Gounon has stepped in for Ferdinand Habsburg in the #35 Alpine A424 for the 6 Hours of Imola, the second round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. Habsburg sustained injuries in a test at Motorland Aragon, fracturing two lumbar vertebrae. Gounon will join his teammates Charles Milesi and Paul Loup Chatin in driving the car at Imola.
Gounon mentioned that the stiffness of the car requires a different driving style. As a factory Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver with numerous wins, Gounon is still adapting to the A424 and its handling characteristics. He explained that the car feels less responsive compared to a GT, and sometimes unexpected moments occur. Despite the challenges, Gounon is determined to do his best and fill Habsburg’s shoes.
Gounon had previously driven the A424 during a test in Barcelona and an endurance test at Motorland Aragon. He noted that the transition from GT to the A424 feels fast and unnatural, but with each session, he becomes more comfortable and confident. Gounon emphasized the importance of adapting to the different procedures and braking points of the A424, as well as managing the increased speed.
While traffic management is crucial at Imola, Gounon believes his experience in GTs will be beneficial. However, he expressed caution about locking the wheels and colliding with other cars. Gounon acknowledged that there is still work to be done in terms of qualifying position and race performance, but the team is focused on learning and improving.
In qualifying, Alpine secured the 17th and 18th positions, requiring Gounon and his teammates to make progress in order to score points. Their previous race in Qatar demonstrated their ability to achieve this, and they aim to replicate that success at Imola.