Former Formula E champion and two-time Macau Grand Prix winner António Félix da Costa will compete for Alpine Endurance Team in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship, after signing a long-term agreement with the French manufacturer.
Da Costa’s career CV is impressive to say the least. A consistent front-runner in both the GP3 Series and Formula Renault 3.5 Series as he climbed the single-seater ladder, he has since gone on to establish himself as a leading light in Formula E, clinching the coveted Drivers’ crown in Season 6 (2019-20) and winning more races than anybody else in Season 10 as he shows absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
In evidence of his versatile skillset, the Portuguese ace has similarly reached the top step of the rostrum in Germany’s DTM touring car championship and is already well-versed in the art of endurance racing – another discipline in which he has routinely excelled.
He contested four full campaigns in FIA WEC from 2018 to 2022, graduating from LMGTE Pro to LMP2 and ascending the podium on no fewer than 15 occasions from 28 appearances. In the last of those seasons, he prevailed in both the title battle and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Da Costa subsequently built further upon that success in the series’ top-tier, playing a vital role in Hertz Team JOTA’s FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams triumph in 2023, prior to returning to La Sarthe earlier this year with AF Corse, finishing fourth in the LMP2 Pro-Am category.
Having enjoyed his first run behind the wheel of the Alpine A424 Hypercar yesterday (20 October) on the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit, the 34-year-old Cascais native will be back on-track during next month’s ‘Rookie Test’ in Bahrain (9 November), as he ramps up his preparations in advance of his competitive debut in the French prototype in Qatar at the end of March.
“I’m delighted to join Alpine Endurance Team,” he enthused. “Returning to the FIA World Endurance Championship was one of my main objectives, and I’m extremely pleased to do so with a manufacturer that has been redefining itself in a bold and ambitious way.
“Alpine is a brand with a strong racing heritage, and becoming part of such an impressive ecosystem is truly exciting. The team has been performing at a very high level, making this the perfect moment to begin our collaboration.
“Everyone knows my passion for endurance racing. I have worked extremely hard to develop as a complete driver in this discipline and, after winning the LMP2 title, my goal now is to contribute to Alpine’s success at the pinnacle. I look forward to working with the team, my team-mates and all the engineers and mechanics.”
Buoyed by the A424’s maiden victory last time out in Japan and a brace of third-place finishes earlier in the year, Alpine’s star in FIA WEC is very much in the ascendancy. Team Principal Philippe Sinault is confident that da Costa’s vast experience, natural talent, strength of character and ability to bring people together will prove to be invaluable assets as ‘Les Bleus’ strive to continue climbing the Hypercar pecking-order.
“We are thrilled to welcome António,” the Frenchman commented. “We have known each other for a long time and our paths have often crossed, particularly in F3 and endurance racing. There has always been mutual respect between us, as well as a desire to work together one day. It is truly satisfying to see this wish come true today.
“António is a pure racer and formidable competitor who has always known how to get the best out of his car. His presence has left its mark on every team and category in which he has raced. He fits in perfectly with our philosophy – human, committed and focused solely on efficiency.
“We share the same passion and vision, and we are familiar with his environment, so I am confident we will quickly become fully operational. António will bring a lot with his experience, personality and results-oriented culture, and we are excited about taking on future challenges together.”
“We are very pleased to welcome António to Alpine Endurance Team,” echoed the squad’s Sporting Director, Nicolas Lapierre. “His profile is exactly what we were looking for – speed, experience and a thorough knowledge of endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His track record in multiple categories speaks for itself, and we know he will bring a lot to the team, both in sporting terms and on a personal level.
“He is a complete, determined and charismatic driver who will quickly integrate into our structure. We are eager to embark upon this new adventure and start working together to make Alpine an ever-stronger force at the forefront of FIA WEC.”
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