The Alpine Vision show car unveiled on 16 February is said to be very similar to the car expected to go on sale in 2017. While this is something of a commercial rebirth for Alpine, a name that evokes some legendary rally racing and endurance exploits, the badge has already been seen back on the track since 2013. That year, the superb French marque made its return to endurance with home team Signatech, headed by Philippe Sinault, marking the first page in Alpine’s contemporary history. The story now continues with a new chapter and the production revival of the “berlinette”.

Our motorsport involvement since 2013, in endurance in particular, brings clear evidence of the important place held by Alpine in the hearts of motorsport aficionados and sports car devotees, says Bernard Ollivier, Alpine’s Deputy Managing Director in an interview on the Renault Group website.

Competition (and the will to win that goes with competition) is an integral part of the Alpine DNA. Many people hold fond memories of Alpine as the little guy winning through against the big names (Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, etc.) in the international racetrack or rally arena. Fully aware of the importance of racing in the Alpine genetic makeup, we resumed our motorsport involvement in 2013, in endurance in the LMP2 class in the Le Mans 24-Hour event, and the European Championship, ELMS. Then we entered the World Championship (WEC) in 2015 and we’ve been very successful, Ollivier explains.

There is no denying Alpine’s success with Signatech taking the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) title in 2013 and 2014. For Bernard Ollivier, endurance is the natural choice: Endurance, a historic discipline for Alpine (54 cars at the Le Mans starting line in 11 years, and scratch victory in 1978), is an excellent choice, and all the prestige motorsport brands are involved.

In addition to the marque’s return to the market, its commitment to endurance racing will move up a notch in 2016. This year, there will be two cars (Alpine A460) in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (instead of just one in previous seasons). Alpine is stepping up its ambitions with a second car while strengthening our driver line-up. We have worked to optimise our resources to put us in the best possible position. Nothing has been left to chance in our 2016 campaign.

The #35 and #36 Alpine A460s will be on the grid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June. French driver Nicolas Lapierre, LM P2 class winner in 2015 with KCMG, American Gustavo Meneze and Chinese pair David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung have already been confirmed while two other drivers are yet to be named. A team that aims to fly the French flag high at Le Mans, and that will no doubt get huge support from the crowd.

In 2015, racegoers at Le Mans were treated to an exclusive preview of the Alpine Celebration, a concept produced to commemorate the marque’s 60th anniversary.

#LeMans Première mondiale ! #AlpineCelebration pic.twitter.com/FezQLnXyCv

— Signatech-Alpine (@signaturerace) 13 juin 2015

Geoffroy Barre | Translated from French by Clair Pickworth

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2014, SCRUTINEERING. Alpine, a magical name that sets motoring enthusiasts’ hearts racing. They always flock to watch the scrutineering sessions in the centre of Le Mans.