Alpine Abandoning Le Mans Sports Car Program After 2026

The Renault performance brand is the first to fully drop a major sports car program since manufacturer interest exploded in 2023.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Alpine, the Renault performance brand, has announced that 2026 will be its last season racing in the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This makes Alpine the first major manufacturer to completely withdraw its hypercar program, rather than just pause or drop it from a single series. The decision comes as the brand focuses more on its Formula 1 program, which is transitioning to a customer of Mercedes engines in 2026.

Why it matters

Alpine's withdrawal is the latest sign of cracks forming in the "Platinum Age" of manufacturer involvement in top-level sports car racing, which saw a surge of new programs starting in 2023 with the debut of the LMDh class. Other major brands like Porsche, Audi, and Lamborghini have also scaled back or paused their programs in recent years, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the current sports car racing landscape.

The details

Alpine's A424 prototype has been a race-winning program in the FIA WEC since 2024, including a victory at Fuji last season. The team will have one more season to add to its success before withdrawing at the end of 2026. The decision comes as Alpine focuses more on its Formula 1 program, which is transitioning to a customer of Mercedes engines in 2026 after Renault shut down its long-lived F1 engine shop.

  • Alpine announced the withdrawal on February 12, 2026.
  • Alpine's final season in the FIA WEC top class will be in 2026.

The players

Alpine

The Renault performance brand that has been racing in the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship since 2024.

Porsche

A major manufacturer that dropped its championship-winning FIA WEC program in the recent offseason, though the Porsche 963 remains active in IMSA.

Audi

A manufacturer that dropped a related LMDh program before it ever raced, officially announcing in March 2022 that it would not go forward with an unnamed car.

Lamborghini

A manufacturer whose SC 63 program is officially paused, though major gains in its final races may not be enough to earn the program a revival any time soon.

Genesis

A brand launching its own LMDh program this year, one of the new additions to the top-level sports car racing landscape.

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What’s next

Alpine will have one more season to add to its race-winning record in the FIA WEC top class before withdrawing at the end of 2026.

The takeaway

Alpine's withdrawal is the latest sign of cracks forming in the "Platinum Age" of manufacturer involvement in top-level sports car racing, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the current landscape as other major brands have also scaled back or paused their programs in recent years.