WEC: Alpine out to conquer China

Second place at the recent FIA World Endurance Championship clash in Japan has boosted Alpine’s campaign ahead of the championship’s second Asian encounter, China’s 6 Hours of Shanghai. The team’s key news for round seven of the 2015 WEC is the arrival of Tom Dillmann in its driver line-up alongside Nelson Panciatici and Paul-Loup Chatin.Signatech-Alpine’s objective in the Chinese capital is another top-three finish, along with fourth place in the 2015 LM P2 Trophy.

After coming very close to a class podium finish at the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in Texas, USA, Alpine followed up with second place in LM P2 at Fuji Speedway at the beginning of October.

This week, the Alpine A450b continues its world tour with a visit to the planet’s third-most populated city, Shanghai. The circuit was inaugurated in 2004 and Nelson Panciatici and Paul-Loup Chatin will be joined for the occasion by a new team-mate, Tom Dillmann, who is poised to make his endurance racing debut after strong recent results in GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5.

While Nelson Panciatici got a chance to sample the Chinese circuit with his team of the day in 2012, the venue will be a new experience for Paul-Loup Chatin and Tom Dillmann. It will also be the first competitive appearance of an Alpine in the country, two years after the Renault Alpine A110-50 was presented at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Racing in China this weekend will help to boost awareness of the Alpine brand in the world’s biggest automobile market.

The entry for the race features 32 cars, including nine in the LM P2 class. Signatech-Alpine will be the only all-French line-up on the grid.

Philippe Sinault (Team Principal, Signatech-Alpine): “After coming second in Japan, we’re hoping for another podium finish in China. We are perfectly aware that the racing is of a high standard, so we will need to be very competitive. Vincent Capillaire had other commitments for this phase of the season. Tom Dillmann will therefore be standing in for him at Shanghai and Bahrain. Vincent did a remarkable job in Japan and it won’t be easy for Tom, but we know how talented a single-seater racer he is. It will be down to him to show that he is capable of adapting to the spirit of endurance racing this weekend. Shanghai is a complex circuit where you need good aerodynamic efficiency through the first part without compromising your top speed down the two long straights. We will therefore have plenty of work on our plate during free practice.”

Nelson Panciatici: “Our second place at Fuji was extremely encouraging and has further spurred the motivation of everyone in the team. We want to do at least as well in Shanghai where much could depend on the weather. It’s a circuit I enjoy but we will need to focus hard on the set-up because tyre wear is high. Since the end of the summer break, we have shown that we are strong in this area, so I’m feeling quite confident.”

Paul-Loup Chatin: “We deserved to finish on the podium in Japan after showing that we were capable of a top finish at Austin. We will now need to show the same commitment if we are to target a similar result in Shanghai. Fourth place in the championship is also up for grabs. I can’t wait to discover what is a new track for me and to start working with Tom. A podium finish is possible, but we must be careful not to be overoptimistic.”

Tom Dillmann: “Shanghai will be my first race in a prototype car. I have been tempted by endurance racing for some time and I jumped at the chance to join Alpine for the final races of 2015. I will need to adapt quickly to the Alpine A450b if I am to help Nelson and Paul-Loup challenge for a podium finish. I’m thrilled to be defending the colours of such a fine brand as Alpine as part of an all-French driver line-up.”

Programme (UTC +8)Friday, October 30, 10:30am: Free Practice 1 (90 minutes)Friday, October 30, 3:30pm: Free Practice 2 (90 minutes)Saturday, October 31, 9:00am: Free Practice 3 (60 minutes)Saturday, October 31, 2:00pm: LMP Qualifying (20 minutes)Sunday, November 1, 11:00am: 6 Hours of Shanghai


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