Geely Advances Acquisition of Alpine’s WEC Assets for 2027 Hypercar Campaign

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is set to welcome a new contender as Chinese automotive giant Geely moves closer to acquiring Alpine’s WEC program assets. This development aligns with Alpine’s announced exit from the championship at the end of the 2026 season and positions Geely for a full-season Hypercar entry in 2027.

According to reports from Dailysportscar, Geely is negotiating to purchase the Alpine A424 LMDh chassis and associated program assets. The plan includes redesigning key components of the prototype and submitting it for a new homologation process under FIA and ACO regulations. While intellectual property details remain under discussion, both parties have reached broad agreement on the core terms of the transfer.

The project has attracted interest from major partners, notably Saudi Arabian energy company Aramco and Horse Powertrains, a joint venture specializing in low-emission combustion engines and hybrid systems. Their involvement is expected to bolster Geely’s technical and operational capabilities in endurance racing.

Signatech, the French squad currently managing Alpine’s WEC operations, is anticipated to continue as the trackside team for Geely’s program. However, the exact role of Alpine’s Viry-Châtillon facility and the overarching corporate management structure have yet to be finalized.

Geely has also initiated preliminary talks with Alpine’s current driver lineup to explore continuity behind the wheel. Nevertheless, the transition to a new brand is likely to trigger changes within the driver market.

If finalized, Geely would become the first Chinese manufacturer to commit to a full-season campaign in WEC’s top Hypercar class. The company views 2027 as the starting point for a long-term engagement, with an eye toward the technical regulation updates scheduled for 2030.

This announcement comes as the WEC calendar progresses, following the recent 6 Hours of São Paulo, won by the #15 BMW team of Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello, and Dries Vanthoor. The championship resumes on September 6 with the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Broadcast details for the United States include coverage on Max/MotorTrend, with Free Practice 3 on September 5 at 12:00 ET, Qualifying and Hyperpole at 16:00 ET, and the race on September 6 at 14:00 ET.

Alpine’s confirmed departure from WEC’s Hypercar class after 2026 opens the door for Geely’s acquisition and redesign of the A424 LMDh chassis. This strategic move, supported by experienced partners and operational continuity through Signatech, signals a significant expansion of the WEC Hypercar grid and increased manufacturer diversity.

Additional WEC developments include Ford’s first 2027 Hypercar test at Paul Ricard and the cancellation of Middle East rounds, with Barcelona and Monza set to conclude the 2026 season. Meanwhile, driver Kamui Kobayashi has publicly questioned Toyota’s pace following the São Paulo race, highlighting the competitive intensity of the series.