WORDS BY ROB HANSFORD | IMAGES BY PHD PHOTO
So it's happened. After weeks of rumours Alpine has formally announced that it will be withdrawing from the World Endurance championship at the end of the 2026 season.
Alpine will become the second team with a Hypercar entry to withdraw from the championship in as many years after Porsche ended its participation in the Hypercar class at the end of 2025.
With two manufacturers withdrawing from the WEC in quick succession it would be easy to believe that this is a sign that the championship itself is beginning to struggle. Critics would certainly argue that's the case. But it's not really as straightforward with that.
In Porsche's case, its withdrawal from WEC was based around the fact that as a company it has begun to run into financial struggles. Of course, Porsche isn't in a position where its very existence is at immediate risk, but its profits have hit a downward trajectory and the board need to turn the tide quickly.
Naturally as a way to save money, manufacturers start to look at their extra curricular activities and so it was no huge surprise that the Hypercar outfit was shutdown. It was a straightforward measure for Porsche to take that would mean it would start to save money almost immediately. And what helped its justification in making the decision is the fact that it wasn't as competitive on the track as it wanted to be.
Alpine’s position has always been a bit different though. It's never really been able to target a championship victory, but that doesn't mean it's been totally uncompetitive. It did win at Fuji in 2025 after all.
The team is far smaller compared to the likes of Porsche too, and that's been an advantage in helping keep costs under control. Being a sister brand of Renault, Alpine doesn't have the financial might of some of its rivals, something that's been plainly obvious with its Formula 1 team. But in WEC it was making it work.
But let's be clear - Alpine isn't pulling out of WEC because it too is now in financial trouble. As a brand, Alpine isn't in too bad a position at all. It recently announced improved performances, claiming to have had "triple digit growth" in 2025. But what's becoming clear is that there's a disconnect between what it's currently doing and where its future strategy lies.
Its argument for leaving the WEC is that it needs to protect its future and ensure the company is sustainable going forward. That's because the current automotive market is still lingering at a crossroads. It is claiming it wants to protect itself early and save what it's spending on a Hypercar programme to ensure its automotive arm can continue to flourish.
The one saving grace for WEC is that Alpine will at least see out the 2026 season. It was a final swansong to say goodbye after having spent two seasons racing in the highest class of endurance racing.
But what does this mean for the championship itself? Is it cause for concern? Of course it is. Losing two manufacturers in two seasons in WEC’s premier class is always going to be a hit. But it's not totally indicative of the state of the championship. These teams haven't pulled out because of the quality of racing, it's been the team’s own internal issues.
And what should comfort WEC for now is the fact that it has a new team - Genesis - debuting this year, with McLaren and Ford soon to join from next season.
There's still every reason to be optimistic about the state of WEC’s Hypercar era. But it can't be complacent. It can now ill afford to lose any additional teams. If it does, then voices will begin to question whether this regulation era is the one that will properly return WEC to the mainstream motorsport audience.