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Signatech
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Signatech, currently competing as the Alpine Endurance Team, is a French auto racing team and racing car constructor that competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Signatech has been a long-term partner for Alpine since 2013, and has been responsible for running their Le Mans Prototype race cars in the WEC, most notably in the LMP2 class and more recently stepping up to the Le Mans Hypercar class with Alpine's A424 sports prototype.[1] Alpine purchased a stake in Signatech in 2024.[2]
Key Information
Racing history
[edit]
The team won the FIA European Formula Three Cup in 1999 with Benoît Tréluyer. It won the French Formula Three Championship in 2000 with Jonathan Cochet as driver, who also won the European Cup and Masters of Formula 3 that year, and won the Korea Super Prix for the team in 2001. In 2002, Renaud Derlot won the European F3 Cup for the team.
In 2003, Signature won the team championship in the first Formula Renault V6 Eurocup, with Tristan Gommendy and Kosuke Matsuura as drivers. They moved from the defunct French F3 series to its replacement, the Formula 3 Euro Series, and Nicolas Lapierre and Fabio Carbone completed a 1–2 finish for the team at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix. Edoardo Mortara and Jean-Karl Vernay repeated this feat in 2009. The team began competing in the 2009 European Le Mans Series in the LMP1 category.
The 2010 season was an outstanding one for Signature in the F3 Euroseries with Edoardo Mortara and Marco Wittmann finishing first and second in the series, winning eight races between them, and also taking the team championship.
Signatech provided the chassis for the Formula Future Fiat, a junior formula racing series in Brazil held in 2010 and 2011.
In 2011, in cooperation with the Nissan GT Academy, Signatech finished second in LMP2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2012, Signature decided to pull out of the Formula 3 Euro Series, to concentrate on its involvement in sport car races.
The team finished tenth overall at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans using a Nissan-powered Oreca 03.
In 2013, Alpine partnered with Signatech to run an LMP2 car in the European Le Mans Series with French drivers Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici. Signatech won the LMP2 Team's and Driver's championships.
In 2014, Signatech delivered chassis for the Formula 4 Sudamericana.
In 2015, Signatech, continuing its partnership with Alpine, returned to the FIA World Endurance Championship, winning the championship LMP2 category in 2016 and 2018–19.
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In 2020, Signatech returned to the European Le Mans Series under the name of Richard Mille Racing Team. The team previously planned to run an all-female lineup of Tatiana Calderón, Katherine Legge and Sophia Flörsch, however, due to Legge's injury, she was then replaced by André Negrão for the first two rounds. Beitske Visser would then take over Legge's place for the rest of the season.[3] The team would then join the LMP2 class of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, with an all-female lineup of Tatiana Calderón, Beitske Visser and Sophia Flörsch.[4]
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In 2021, the team partnered again with Alpine, this time fielding a "grandfathered" Rebellion R13 in the Le Mans Hypercar class for the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship season, which finished third overall at the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.[5] The team continued with this lineup in 2022.[6] For 2023, Signatech returned to the LMP2 category with two Oreca 07s;
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They returned to the top class of the World Endurance Championship in 2024 with two Alpine A424s.[7]The French manufacturer managed a fourth place in the standings, with the highlight being a third-place finish in the 6 Hours of Fuji.
Racing record
[edit]24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship Results
[edit]* Championship ongoing.
Timeline
[edit]| Current series/events | |
|---|---|
| 24 Hours of Le Mans | 2009–present |
| FIA World Endurance Championship | 2012, 2015–present |
| Former series | |
| French Formula Three Championship | 1993–2002 |
| French Formula Renault Championship | 2000, 2002 |
| Formula Renault V6 Eurocup | 2003 |
| Formula 3 Euro Series | 2003–2011 |
| Formula Renault 3.5 Series | 2008 |
| European Le Mans Series | 2009–2010, 2013–2014, 2020 |
| FIA Formula 3 European Championship | 2014–2015 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Alpine is gunning for Le Mans glory with its A424 Hypercar". evo. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "Alpine demonstrates long-term commitment to WEC, buying stake in Signatech". RACER. 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2020-01-29). "Signatech, Richard Mille Linked to All-Female LMP2 Entry". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-01-20). "Richard Mille Racing Moves Up to WEC LMP2 Ranks". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
- ^ Dagys, John (14 September 2020). "Alpine Confirms LMP1 Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ^ "No Change For Alpine In 2022 Driver Squad | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (9 June 2023). "Alpine launches A424 Beta LMDh car for 2024 WEC campaign". Autosport. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Signature Team.
Signatech
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History
Founding and early single-seater involvement (1990–2000)
Signatech, originally operating under the name Signature, was established in 1990 in Bourges, France, by Philippe Sinault in partnership with Jean-Pierre Tallan and later joined by Lionel Chevalier. The venture began as a modest preparation and management outfit dedicated to assisting emerging drivers in single-seater racing, focusing on logistical support, engineering assistance, and career guidance to help young talents progress through junior categories.[5][4][6] From its inception, Signature concentrated on the French single-seater scene, providing essential backing to drivers in the French Formula 3 Championship and Formula Renault series through regional events. This included on-site engineering, race preparation, and strategic management, with an emphasis on long-term driver development rather than pursuing outright victories in the initial phase. The team's efforts contributed to the early careers of several drivers who later achieved prominence in higher echelons of motorsport, establishing Signature as a reliable partner in France's junior racing ecosystem.[7] Signature entered competitive racing in the French Formula 3 Championship during the early 1990s, marking its transition from support roles to fielding entries and securing top-10 finishes in its debut season. Operating as a compact organization in these formative years, the team prioritized building a solid foundation in single-seaters. A standout milestone arrived in 1999, when Signature secured victory in the FIA European Formula Three Cup at Pau with driver Benoît Tréluyer, highlighting the team's growing technical prowess and driver nurturing capabilities.[8][9]Formula 3 era and European successes (2001–2012)
Signatech, operating under its predecessor Signature during this period, expanded its open-wheel racing efforts into the Formula 3 Euro Series upon the category's inception in 2003, marking a shift from national championships to a pan-European platform. The team quickly established itself with consistent podium finishes across seasons, leveraging Dallara chassis and engine partnerships with suppliers such as Mercedes and later Volkswagen. This foundation culminated in the 2010 teams' and drivers' championships, secured by Edoardo Mortara with seven race victories in a Volkswagen-powered Dallara, including back-to-back wins at the Macau Grand Prix.[10][11][12] In parallel, Signatech/Signature achieved notable success in the French Formula 3 Championship, building on prior national involvement. The team claimed titles in 2000 and contributed to strong performances in subsequent years, with drivers like Benoît Tréluyer securing the 1999 FIA European Formula Three Cup victory. By 2004, Nicolas Lapierre delivered multiple podiums and a third-place finish in the Euro Series for the team, highlighting its growing prowess in developing competitive setups.[13][9][14] The era solidified Signatech's reputation for nurturing talent, with over a dozen drivers progressing to higher series, including Formula 1 and endurance racing. Key figures included Romain Grosjean, who raced a Signature Dallara in the 2006 Euro Series en route to GP2 and F1; Loïc Duval, a 2005 team driver who advanced to Formula E and Le Mans wins; Giedo van der Garde, who reached F1 with Caterham; and Marco Wittmann, a 2010 runner-up who later claimed DTM titles. Collectively, these drivers amassed more than 15 victories in F3 categories under the team's guidance, underscoring its role in career acceleration.[9][15] Internationally, Signatech/Signature marked milestones such as strong showings at the Masters of Formula 3, with Loïc Duval competing for the team in 2005 at Zandvoort. Engine collaborations evolved from Opel-Spiess in earlier years to Mercedes and Volkswagen, optimizing performance through refined data analysis and chassis tuning. By 2010, the team's operations had expanded significantly, supporting multiple cars with enhanced technical resources focused on setup optimization and telemetry.[16][17]Transition to endurance racing and Alpine partnership (2013–2023)
Signatech's transition to endurance racing began with exploratory efforts in prototypes prior to a full shift from single-seaters. In 2011, the team achieved a runner-up finish in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Nissan-powered Oreca 03, driven by Soheil Ayari, Franck Mailleux, and Lucas Ordóñez, marking an early foray into the category through a collaboration with Nissan's GT Academy program.[18] The pivotal move came in 2013 with a factory partnership between Signatech and Alpine, rebranded under the Alpine-Nissan banner, entering the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in the LMP2 class. Utilizing an Oreca 03 chassis rebadged as the Alpine A450 and powered by a Nissan V8 engine, the #36 entry secured the LMP2 teams' championship in its debut season, with drivers Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici clinching the drivers' title through consistent performances across the six-round calendar. This success, achieved with just one victory but strong reliability and strategy, revitalized Alpine's racing heritage after a 35-year hiatus from competition.[3][19][20] Building on this momentum, Signatech expanded into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2014, contesting select rounds while continuing in ELMS, where the team repeated as LMP2 champions in 2014 with the evolved A450 lineup featuring Panciatici, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Oliver Webb. The full WEC LMP2 campaign commenced in 2015 with the A450B, but early challenges emerged, including a retirement at that year's Le Mans due to mechanical issues, highlighting initial reliability concerns in the more demanding global series. These mid-2010s hurdles, compounded by adapting to the series' diverse tracks and regulations, were addressed through iterative engineering refinements.[3] Signatech's WEC commitment solidified from 2016 to 2023, yielding LMP2 teams' and drivers' championships in 2016, as well as the 2018–19 season. The 2016 title came aboard the closed-body Alpine A460 (an evolution of the Oreca 05), with the #36 car driven by Nicolas Lapierre, Stéphane Richelmi, and Gustavo Menezes securing eight podiums, including a class victory at Le Mans. By 2017, the team transitioned to the Oreca 07 chassis rebadged as the A470, enhancing aerodynamics and performance consistency; this platform underpinned the 2018–19 success, where Lapierre, Pierre Thiriet, and André Negrão dominated with victories at Le Mans (2018, confirmed post-disqualification of rivals; 2019) and key WEC rounds, amassing 73 points to clinch the crown. Paul-Loup Chatin contributed significantly in the #35 sister car, supporting the program's depth.[3][21][22] The Alpine partnership evolved into a symbiotic factory effort, with Signatech providing comprehensive engineering support for chassis development, setup optimization, and race operations, leveraging Oreca's technical collaboration to align prototype racing with Alpine's road car revival. Reliability improved post-2018 through aerodynamic upgrades and refined pit strategies, enabling sustained competitiveness; for instance, the #35 A470's inherited 2018 Le Mans win exemplified these gains. A highlight came in 2021, when Signatech's #36 Alpine A480-Gibson qualified third overall in Hyperpole and finished third outright at Le Mans, driven by Negrão, Lapierre, and Matthieu Vaxivière, in the marque's bold LMP1 foray before the Hypercar regulations. This era cemented Signatech as Alpine's endurance cornerstone, blending single-seater precision with prototype endurance prowess.[3][23][24]Recent developments and Hypercar era (2024–present)
In September 2024, Alpine acquired a minority stake in Signatech, its long-standing endurance racing partner, to ensure long-term stability and deepen operational integration while preserving Signatech's independence.[4][25] This move, announced amid Alpine's Hypercar program, rebranded the outfit as the Alpine Endurance Team under Signatech's management, aligning with Alpine's ambition to secure overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans within four to five years.[26] Signatech's Hypercar era began in 2024 with the debut of two Oreca-built Alpine A424 LMDh prototypes in the FIA World Endurance Championship's Hypercar class, marking Alpine's shift from LMP2 dominance.[27] The #36 A424, driven by Nicolas Lapierre, Mick Schumacher, and Matthieu Vaxivière, achieved the program's first podium with third place at the 6 Hours of Fuji, capitalizing on strategic pit stops amid variable weather conditions.[28] This result highlighted the A424's potential despite reliability challenges earlier in the season, as the team focused on hybrid system optimization with the Oreca-Gibson powertrain. For the 2025 season, the Alpine Endurance Team refreshed its driver lineups to blend experience with emerging talent, assigning Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Charles Milesi to the #35 A424, while Mick Schumacher paired with newcomers Frédéric Makowiecki and Jules Gounon in the #36.[29] A new livery, unveiled in January 2025, featured bolder blue accents on the A424s to symbolize the intensified partnership.[30] With these changes, the team targeted consistent podium contention across the eight-round calendar, building on 2024's learning curve in the competitive Hypercar field.[31] Mid-season performances in 2025 underscored progress, with the #36 A424 securing third place at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps through strong pace in wet conditions and effective energy deployment.[32] At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #35 achieved a top-10 finish in 10th place overall, while the #36 finished 11th, demonstrating improved reliability over 24 hours despite traffic and hybrid management demands.[33][34] These results stemmed from technical evolutions to the A424, including engine refinements for enhanced hybrid efficiency and better power output under Balance of Performance constraints.[31] The team continued its strong form later in the season, securing its maiden Hypercar class victory with the #36 at the 6 Hours of Fuji in September 2025.[35] Looking ahead, the Alpine Endurance Team plans to maintain its two-car WEC commitment while exploring expanded roles, including a confirmed return to the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) with an LMP2 entry under the Signatech Alpine banner to nurture talent and logistics.[36] Team operations have grown to support these multi-series efforts, with staffing expansions enabling advanced simulator work and data analysis for sustained competitiveness.[26]Organization and operations
Management and team principal
Philippe Sinault founded the predecessor team Signature in 1990 and established Signatech in 2009, serving as its team principal ever since and guiding the organization through its evolution from single-seater racing to endurance competitions. In this capacity, Sinault oversees strategic direction, driver selection processes, and the cultivation of partnerships, drawing on his early experience as a single-seater driver and his subsequent focus on team management and talent development.[5] He holds a degree in communications from Bordeaux University and manages key aspects of the team's engineering office, design, assembly, and marketing operations.[5][37] Signatech's management hierarchy features Sinault at the apex, supported by specialized roles including technical director Lionel Chevalier, who leads engineering and development efforts for racing programs.[38] The structure also incorporates an operations manager handling logistics and day-to-day execution, alongside integration with Alpine executives on the board to align on shared objectives in their partnership.[1] This setup ensures coordinated decision-making across technical, sporting, and logistical domains.[1] Decision-making at Signatech emphasizes Sinault's pivotal influence, particularly in driver selections, where his judgment is trusted for its alignment with team goals and performance potential.[39] For instance, Sinault has been instrumental in assembling lineups that leverage experienced and emerging talents to maximize competitive outcomes.[39] Regarding ownership, Signatech remains majority-controlled by Sinault, who retained a 51% stake following Alpine's acquisition of a 49% minority interest in 2024, preserving the team's operational autonomy while deepening the strategic alliance.[25] This arrangement allows Signatech to maintain its independent ethos under Sinault's leadership amid the expanded collaboration with Alpine.[4]Facilities, staff, and technical partnerships
Signatech, operating as the Alpine Endurance Team, maintains its headquarters in Bourges, France, where the team has been based since the founding of its predecessor organization in 1990.[40] The facility serves as the primary operational hub for the team's racing activities, supporting design, maintenance, and preparation efforts for endurance prototypes.[41] Following the deepened partnership with Alpine, the team gained access to additional technical resources at the Hypertech Alpine center in Viry-Châtillon for engine assembly and maintenance starting in 2024.[25] The team's workforce consisted of approximately 40 employees as of 2021, encompassing engineers, mechanics, and data analysts dedicated to vehicle development and race performance optimization.[7] This composition enables comprehensive support for prototype racing, from on-track telemetry analysis to post-race debriefs. Signatech has maintained long-term technical collaborations essential to its prototype programs. Since 2013, the team has partnered with Oreca for chassis design and construction, utilizing Oreca 07 platforms in LMP2 and adapting them for the LMDh Alpine A424 Hypercar.[42] In the LMP2 era, Gibson Technology supplied the GK428 4.2-liter V8 engines powering the Alpine A470, contributing to multiple victories and championships. For the Hypercar program, Renault-Alpine provides the 3.4-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrain, integrated with a standardized energy recovery system to meet LMDh regulations.[43] To facilitate participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship's global calendar, Signatech employs specialized logistics for transporting vehicles, equipment, and personnel across international venues. The adoption of hybrid technology in the A424 since 2024 underscores the team's commitment to sustainability, aligning with broader motorsport trends toward efficient power units and reduced emissions.[44]Racing programs
Current commitments in FIA World Endurance Championship
Signatech, operating as the Alpine Endurance Team, fielded two factory-supported Alpine A424 Hypercars—numbered #35 and #36—in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, which comprised eight rounds from Qatar to Bahrain and concluded on November 8, 2025. The program achieved notable progress, including the team's first Hypercar class victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji with the #35 car.[45][46] The #35 lineup consisted of Paul-Loup Chatin, Charles Milesi, and Ferdinand Habsburg, a trio chosen for their proven consistency and long-term synergy within the Alpine setup, having contributed to multiple podiums in prior seasons. In contrast, the #36 car paired Mick Schumacher—whose Formula 1 experience has drawn substantial media interest—with endurance specialists Frédéric Makowiecki and Jules Gounon, emphasizing outright speed alongside reliability.[47][48][49] Signatech's strategy prioritized endurance-focused reliability, with split practice sessions to maximize data collection and rotating qualifying assignments among drivers to balance wear and performance. Following the Qatar opener, targeted upgrades were implemented, including aerodynamic refinements tested later in the season, to address evolving track conditions across the global calendar.[50][31][51] As Alpine's primary factory team, Signatech oversaw comprehensive setup, maintenance, and operations for both entries, while managing a reserve driver pool to cover any contingencies and support testing.[52]Past participation in other series
Signatech, operating under its former name Signature, established a prominent presence in Formula 3 racing from the early 1990s through 2012, spanning national and international competitions. The team secured 16 drivers' and teams' titles over 21 years, including the French Formula 3 Championship in 2000 with driver Jonathan Cochet, the FIA European Formula 3 Cup in 1999 with Benoît Tréluyer, and the Formula 3 Euro Series teams' championship in 2010 alongside driver Edoardo Mortara's drivers' title. Participation encompassed the French F3 series, Formula 3 Euro Series, and prestigious non-championship events such as the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort and the Macau Grand Prix, where the team achieved multiple victories, including at Pau and Macau, contributing to over 20 race wins across these platforms. This era highlighted Signatech's expertise in developing young talent and chassis, such as the in-house Signature SLC used in the Euro Series.[9][12][1] Following its exit from single-seater racing at the end of the 2011 Formula 3 Euro Series to prioritize endurance efforts, Signatech entered the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in 2013 with an Alpine-branded LMP2 program using the Alpine A450 chassis. The partnership yielded immediate success, clinching the LMP2 teams' championship in 2013 and repeating in 2014, while drivers Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues secured the corresponding drivers' title that year through consistent podiums and race wins across the season's rounds. The team maintained a strong LMP2 focus in ELMS through subsequent seasons, achieving multiple class victories and contributing to Alpine's broader endurance resurgence, though participation tapered as resources shifted toward full-season World Endurance Championship commitments by 2017. This ELMS involvement underscored Signatech's transition to prototype racing, with notable results including top finishes at circuits like Paul Ricard and Imola.[53][3][7] Beyond these core series, Signatech pursued limited entries in other endurance championships during the mid-2010s, aligning with its growing specialization in LMP2 prototypes but without pursuing full-season campaigns. This strategic focus on the WEC from 2017 onward allowed consolidation of technical and operational resources for higher-profile international racing.[1]Achievements and records
Championships and titles won
Signatech has achieved six major championships across its history in open-wheel racing and endurance series, with successes spanning Formula 3 and LMP2 categories in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). These titles highlight the team's technical prowess and driver lineups, contributing to a legacy of consistent performance in competitive fields. The breakdown includes one Formula 3 title, two ELMS LMP2 teams' championships, two WEC LMP2 titles, and one Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) LMP2 title, often shared between team and drivers' honors. In the Formula 3 era, Signatech—operating as Signature prior to its 2011 rebranding—secured the teams' championship in the 2010 Formula 3 Euro Series, where Edoardo Mortara clinched the drivers' title with seven victories. An early endurance title came in 2011 with the ILMC LMP2 teams' championship as Signatech Nissan.[2] Transitioning to endurance, Signatech claimed the 2013 ELMS LMP2 teams' and drivers' championships with Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici, who delivered consistent podiums in the Alpine A450. In 2014, the team retained the ELMS LMP2 teams' title, powered by Paul Loup-Chatin, Nelson Panciatici, and James Webb in the updated chassis.[54][53] Signatech's WEC LMP2 successes include the 2016 drivers' and teams' championships, won by Nicolas Lapierre, Paul Loup-Chatin, and Stéphane Richelmi in the Alpine A460-Nissan, marked by four victories including Le Mans. The team repeated with the 2018–19 LMP2 Endurance Trophy, again with Lapierre alongside André Negrão and Pierre Thiriet, securing the title through resilient performances in the Alpine A470.[21][55]Notable race results and podiums
Signatech has achieved several standout results in endurance racing, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the team has consistently performed in the LMP2 class and later in higher categories. In 2011, the Signatech Nissan Oreca 03 secured first place in the LMP2 category at Le Mans, completing 320 laps and finishing ninth overall, marking an early highlight for the team's prototype efforts.[18] The drivers, Soheil Ayari, Franck Mailleux, and Lucas Ordonez, demonstrated strong reliability over the 24-hour distance despite challenges from mechanical issues among competitors.[56] The team's partnership with Alpine elevated their Le Mans performances further. In 2021, the Signatech Alpine A480 (Rebellion R13-Gibson) finished third overall—the first podium for a non-hybrid prototype in the top class since the category's evolution—driven by Nicolas Lapierre, André Negrão, and Matthieu Vaxiviere, who completed the race four laps behind the winning Toyota.[57] This result came after a resilient run, including recovery from an off-track excursion and bodywork repairs, underscoring the team's strategic depth. Signatech Alpine also claimed multiple pole positions in LMP2 across WEC and ELMS events, totaling seven in the class during their tenure.[58] Transitioning to the Hypercar era, Signatech's Alpine A424 made its debut in the 2024 Qatar 1812 km race, with the #35 entry finishing eighth in the Hypercar class after post-race adjustments from a disqualification ahead, while the #36 car placed 12th—both cars completing the full distance in their inaugural outing.[59] This top-10 achievement for the #35 highlighted the team's adaptation to LMDh regulations despite the competitive field. In 2025, at the 6 Hours of Fuji (as of November 2025), the #35 Alpine A424 secured first place in Hypercar—a milestone victory driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, Charles Milesi, and Ferdinand Habsburg—marking the team's maiden Hypercar win and the 100th WEC race victory overall.[35][60] Beyond Le Mans, Signatech's record includes over 50 podium finishes across various categories since the team's inception, with at least 15 in WEC and ELMS LMP2 races alone, complemented by numerous fastest laps and pole positions that emphasize their qualifying prowess.[61] These individual results, such as class wins and one-two finishes in ELMS events during the 2013-2014 seasons, have often paved the way for broader championship success without relying on full-season dominance.Detailed racing record
European Le Mans Series results
Signatech entered the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in 2013 with the Alpine A450 in the LMP2 class, marking Alpine's return to prototype racing after a long hiatus. Partnering with Oreca for the chassis and Nissan for the engine, the team dominated the season, clinching both the teams' and drivers' championships with drivers Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici. Their campaign included four victories in five races, showcasing superior reliability and pace on circuits like Silverstone, Imola, Hungaroring, and Red Bull Ring.[62][63] In 2014, Signatech defended both titles successfully with the updated Alpine A450b, now driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, Oliver Webb, and Nelson Panciatici. Despite no repeat of the previous year's win tally—five different teams claimed race victories—the team excelled in consistency, securing four podium finishes and enough points to edge out rivals like Jota Sport by four points in the teams' standings. A highlight was their second-place finish at Paul Ricard, which helped maintain championship momentum. The sole win came at Red Bull Ring.[64][65][66][67] From 2015 to 2017, Signatech's ELMS involvement remained strong but shifted toward building experience for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), where they debuted in 2015. The team achieved consistent top-five class finishes, including a victory at the Red Bull Ring in 2015 with the Alpine A450b and another at Red Bull Ring in 2016. Participation was selective, prioritizing WEC alignment, yet they contributed to Alpine's growing endurance pedigree.[68] Starting in 2018, Signatech reduced its ELMS commitments to focus primarily on the WEC, entering sporadically with the Alpine A470. No class wins occurred in ELMS, with occasional strong showings, such as the Richard Mille Racing Team—operated by Signatech—finishing fifth in LMP2 at Paul Ricard in 2020 with drivers André Negrão and Tatiana Calderón. No Hypercar class entries occurred, as the team stayed in LMP2 throughout. The team did not participate in ELMS in 2024 or 2025.[69] Over their ELMS tenure from 2013 to 2023, Signatech amassed 7 wins in LMP2, establishing itself as a benchmark for privateer teams in the category.[3]| Year | Class | Teams' Position | Key Drivers | Wins | Podiums | Notable Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | LMP2 | 1st | Pierre Ragues, Nelson Panciatici | 4 | 5 | Wins at Silverstone, Imola, Hungaroring, Red Bull Ring; 4th at Paul Ricard clinches title |
| 2014 | LMP2 | 1st | Paul-Loup Chatin, Oliver Webb, Nelson Panciatici | 1 | 4 | Win at Red Bull Ring; 2nd at Paul Ricard; 5th at Estoril clinches title |
| 2015 | LMP2 | Top 5 | Various (e.g., Paul-Loup Chatin, Nelson Panciatici) | 1 | 3+ | Win at Red Bull Ring |
| 2016 | LMP2 | Top 5 | Various | 1 | 2+ | Win at Red Bull Ring; WEC overlap |
| 2017 | LMP2 | Top 5 (limited entries) | Various | 0 | 2 | Consistent points-scoring; WEC overlap |
| 2018 | LMP2 | Mid-pack | André Negrão, Nicolas Lapierre, Pierre Thiriet | 0 | 1 | Points finishes amid WEC focus |
| 2019–2023 | LMP2 | Occasional (e.g., one-offs) | Various (e.g., André Negrão, Tatiana Calderón in 2020) | 0 | 1 | 5th at Paul Ricard (2020, Richard Mille entry); no full seasons; no participation 2024-2025 |
24 Hours of Le Mans results (1997–present)
Signatech's involvement in the 24 Hours of Le Mans began in 2011 with a debut entry in the LMP2 class using a Nissan-powered Oreca 03, where the team secured a runner-up class finish after completing 320 laps. Prior to this, from 1997 to 2010, the team provided sporadic support in Formula 3 events but recorded no starts at Le Mans. Partnering with Alpine from 2013, Signatech achieved consistent participation, earning class podiums including victories in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 during the LMP2 era, with a notable pole position and third overall in 2021 after 384 laps. The team shifted to the Hypercar class in 2022 with the Alpine A480, experiencing challenges such as retirements before a solid seventh-place class finish in 2024 (349 laps) and a double finish in 2025 with the #35 car in tenth overall (both cars 385 laps). Over 16 starts, Signatech has secured four class wins in LMP2, highlighting their endurance racing prowess in prototype categories. The following table summarizes Signatech's complete results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans:| Year | Class | Overall Position | Class Position | Drivers | Car Model | Laps Completed | Status/Reason for DNF | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–2010 | - | - | - | - | - | - | No entries | Sporadic F3 support only |
| 2011 | LMP2 | 8th | 2nd | Soheil Ayari, Franck Mailleux, Lucas Ordóñez | Oreca 03-Nissan | 320 | Finished | [18] |
| 2012 | LMP2 | 10th | 4th | Nelson Panciatici, Pierre Ragues, Roman Rusinov | Oreca 03-Nissan | 351 | Finished | [70] |
| 2013 | LMP2 | 14th | 7th | Nelson Panciatici, Paul-Loup Chatin, Vincent Capillaire | Alpine A450-Nissan | 349 | Finished | [71] |
| 2014 | LMP2 | 7th | 4th | Nelson Panciatici, Paul-Loup Chatin, Oliver Webb | Alpine A450b-Nissan | 377 | Finished | [71] |
| 2015 | LMP2 | 14th | 8th | Nelson Panciatici, Pierre Ragues, Tristan Gommendy | Alpine A450b-Nissan | 358 | Finished | [71] |
| 2016 | LMP2 | 5th | 1st | Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre, Stéphane Richelmi | Alpine A460-Nissan | 384 | Finished | Class win |
| 2017 | LMP2 | 5th | 1st | Pierre Ragues, Nelson Panciatici, André Negrão | Alpine A470-Gibson | 362 | Finished | Class win; [72] |
| 2018 | LMP2 | 5th | 1st | Nicolas Lapierre, Pierre Thiriet, André Negrão | Alpine A470-Gibson | 381 | Finished | Class win; confirmed after appeal; [73] |
| 2019 | LMP2 | 6th | 1st | Nicolas Lapierre, André Negrão, Pierre Thiriet | Alpine A470-Gibson | 381 | Finished | Class win; [74] |
| 2020 | LMP2 | 7th | 4th | Thomas Laurent, André Negrão, Pierre Ragues | Alpine A470-Gibson | 367 | Finished | [75] |
| 2021 | Hypercar | 3rd | 3rd | André Negrão, Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere | Alpine A480-Gibson | 384 | Finished | Pole; 3rd overall; [24] |
| 2022 | Hypercar | 26th | 11th | Nicolas Lapierre, Julien Canal, Charles Milesi | Alpine A480 | 211 | DNF (accident) | [76] |
| 2023 | LMP2 | 25th | 11th | Paul-Loup Chatin, Matthieu Vaxiviere, Nelson Panciatici | Oreca 07-Gibson | 340 | Finished | [77] |
| 2024 | Hypercar | 23rd | 7th | Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi | Alpine A424 | 349 | Finished | #35 entry |
| 2025 | Hypercar | 10th (#35) / 11th (#36) | 10th (#35) / 11th (#36) | #35: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi; #36: Jules Gounon, Frédéric Makowiecki, Mick Schumacher | Alpine A424 | 385 | Finished | Double finish; #35 in top ten overall |